Nine passengers, all belonging to Punjab, were brutally shot dead after being abducted by terrorists affiliated with Fitna-ul-Hindustan in the Loralai district, officials confirmed on Thursday.
All nine were shot dead in cold blood.
The victims' bodies were shifted to Rakhni Basic Health Unit (BHU) for identification and have since been sent to their native towns in Punjab.
The bodies of the victims were received at Baloch Levy Line, and their families have been notified.
Authorities confirmed that raids are being carried out to track down the attackers. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger measures to eliminate terrorism, especially in volatile regions like Balochistan.
Security forces launched a search operation in the area, while both sides of traffic on the highway have been restored.
President Zardari says will cleanse Pakistan of Fitna-e-Hindustan
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the barbaric killings, calling the incident an act of savagery. In an official statement, he said, “The terrorist agents of Fitna-e-Hindustan are executing a heinous plot of bloodshed in Pakistan. Targeting unarmed civilians after identification is pure brutality.”
Zardari stressed that the enemy’s proxies are attempting to destabilize Pakistan and vowed, “We will cleanse our land of all such forces and their facilitators. Our struggle against terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated.” He expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the victims' families.
Punjab CM condemns terror attack
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Balochistan and expressed profound grief over the killing of innocent passengers. She extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, calling the incident a national tragedy that demands justice and unity against terrorism.
Victims identified across Punjab
According to Deputy Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Usman Khalid, the victims hailed from various parts of Punjab:
- Jabbar and Usman, brothers from Lodhran
- Muhammad Irfan from Basti Buzdar, Taunsa Sharif
- Sabir from Gujranwala
- Muhammad Asif from Chowk Qureshi, Muzaffargarh
- Ghulam Saeed from 72/15-L, Khanewal (on leave to visit family)
- Muhammad Junaid from Lahore
- Muhammad Bilal from Attock
- Bilawal from Gujrat
According to Loralai Commissioner Saadat Hussain, the incident occurred near the Dakai intersection on the National Highway connecting Loralai and Musakhel. The victims were kidnapped after disembarking from a passenger bus.
"Armed assailants intercepted the passengers, separated them based on identity, and took them away. Their bodies have now been recovered," the commissioner told reporters.
Earlier, it was reported that terrorists of Fitna-ul-Hindustan attacked passenger buses in Kalat, Mastung, and Loralai, abducting several travellers.
According to details, a search operation was launched in the affected areas to safely recover the abducted passengers, said the spokesperson for the provincial government.
The attacks occurred on Wednesday, police sources confirmed. Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind confirmed the incidents and stated that security forces responded promptly and robustly at all three locations.
Rind emphasised that the forces were fully alert to ensure the safety of civilians and that every effort was being made to secure the release of the kidnapped passengers.
He added that security forces were conducting intensive operations against the terrorists and the protection of citizens remains the government’s top priority.
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