Armed men kill nine Punjab labourers after checking ID cards in Noshki

Nine labourers from Punjab were offloaded from a passenger bus and killed by armed men who blockaded the Quetta-Taftan Highway near Noshki.

The attackers also targeted another vehicle, killing one person and injuring four.

Around 10-12 gunmen abducted the nine bus passengers after verifying their identities from ID cards. The gunmen then transported the passengers to a mountainous area where they were killed and buried.

Police later discovered the bodies of the labourers, who hailed from Punjab, near a bridge, according to Deputy Commissioner Habibullah Musakhel.

Noshki Station House Officer (SHO) Asad Mengal reported that the gunmen also attacked a car on the same highway that attempted to escape the blockade.

The suspects opened fire on the car's tires when it did not stop, resulting in one death and four injuries.

The brother of Balochistan Assembly MPA Ghulam Dastgir Badini was also traveling in the targetted car.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, vowing to make all efforts to apprehend the culprits.

“In this hour of mourning, We stand with bereaved families. The perpetrators of this terrorist incident and their facilitators will be severely punished,” his post read on ‘X’. 

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی بلوچستان کے ضلع نوشکی کے علاقے میں قومی شاہراہ 40 پر بس مسافروں کے اغواء کے بعد قتل کے اندوہناک واقعہ کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت

وزیراعظم کا اس لرزہ خیز واقعہ پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار۔

وزیراعظم کا مقتولین کے لواحقین سے اظہار تعزیت۔

وزیراعظم کی…

— President PMLN (@president_pmln) April 13, 2024

Chief Minister Balochsitan Sarfaraz Bugti said that the terrorists responsible for the horrific killings of nine innocent passengers in Noshki will be brought to justice and there will be no safe haven for these criminals.