Five labourers shot dead in Balochistan’s Washuk district

WEB DESK: Five labourers were shot dead after unidentified gunmen opened fire at shops in the Mashkail area of Balochistan’s Washuk district on Sunday, police said.

According to police, the attackers targeted shops where the labourers were working before fleeing the scene. All five victims were residents of different districts of Punjab.

Authorities said the bodies were being shifted to the victims’ hometowns after completing legal formalities.

Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible, while police have initiated an investigation into the incident.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the killings, describing the attack as a brutal act of terrorism.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the prime minister said targeting innocent and unarmed labourers was an “extremely barbaric and cowardly act” deserving the strongest condemnation.

The Prime Minister’s Office attributed the attack to militants described by the government as Fitna al-Hindustan. PM Shehbaz said those involved in such crimes against humanity deserved no leniency and accused the militants of targeting innocent civilians to advance their “nefarious agenda.”

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He reaffirmed that such attacks would not weaken the nation’s resolve against terrorism and said the government and security forces remained committed to eliminating terrorism and ensuring the protection of every citizen’s life and property.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the attack, calling it the “brutal killing of unarmed and innocent labourers.”

“The martyrs were not just Punjabi labourers; they were citizens of Pakistan, hardworking people and our brothers,” Bugti said, adding that the attack targeted Pakistan’s unity, Constitution and the state rather than any particular province or ethnic group.

He said those responsible had exposed their “sinister motives” by attacking unarmed civilians and accused them of seeking to spread terrorism, hatred, bloodshed and instability.

The chief minister vowed that anti-state elements and their facilitators would be brought to justice, adding that operations against those challenging the writ of the state would be intensified.

Security sources blamed the attack on Fitna al-Hindustan, claiming the group had increasingly targeted civilians and other soft targets after suffering setbacks in operations conducted by security forces.