Terrorists stormed coal mines in Balochistan's Dukki district late on Thursday night, killing 21 miners and injuring six others.
The workers, who belonged to various districts of Balochistan, were attacked while on duty at a private coal mining company. The attackers used rocket launchers, hand grenades, and other weapons in their attacks, and also set engines and machinery on fire.
Initially, 20 labourers had been killed and seven injured. However, later, one of the injured, identified as a security guard, died due to his injuries, raising the death toll in the attack to 21. The deceased, Ajmal, belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Six people were also injured in the attack, out of which five have been shifted to trauma center in Quetta.
According to local police, the coal miners, hailing from Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Loralai, and Musakhel districts, were caught off-guard as the attackers launched their assault under the cover of darkness. The victims included Abdul Malik, Mauladad, Syedullah, Jalal, Fazal, and Rozi Khan from Zhob; Naseebullah, Samiullah, Abdullah, and another Naseebullah from Qila Saifullah; Malang, Hamdullah, and Abdullah from Pishin; Bismillah from Kuchlak; Jalat Khan from Loralai; Samad Khan from Musakhel, and Wali Muhammad from Tehsil Shahrag.
The injured miners and the bodies of victims were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital in Quetta for treatment. Meanwhile, police claimed that a heavy contingent of security forces reached the site as soon as they received information, and also launched a search operation in the area to locate the perpetrators. Police confirmed that the search for the attackers is ongoing.
The chairman of the district, Haji Khairullah, revealed that 10 coal mining engines were set ablaze in the attack. The National Labour Federation, Workers Federation, and local tradesmen have announced a protest in Dukki by placing the bodies of the deceaed on the road, with a shutter-down strike being observed in solidarity with the victims. All business centers in the area remain closed in protest.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack on miners in Balochistan and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and issued instructions to provide prompt medical aid to them.
The PM has also sought a report on the incident. "We are determined to root out all forms of terrorism," he stressed.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has strongly condemned the killing of the innocent miners, expressing his anger and sorrow over the incident. He has ordered law enforcement agencies to take swift and decisive action against the terrorists, directing that the area be sealed and the attackers be apprehended.
"The terrorists' agenda is to destabilize Pakistan by targeting labourers as soft targets," Bugti said.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also expressed her condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured miners. She condemned the attack as an act of barbarity and pledged support for the victims' families during this tragic time.
As the nation reels from yet another act of terrorism, the attack underscores the dangers faced by laborers in Balochistan's resource-rich regions, where they are often targeted as soft and vulnerable targets in a broader agenda of destabilization.
The ongoing investigation into the incident is expected to provide further clarity on the identity and motives of the attackers, as security forces continue their search for the culprits.
