Nine passengers among 11 killed in targeted attacks in Noshki, Balochistan

As many as 11 people, including nine passengers, were killed in two separate attacks in Noshki district of Balochistan late Friday night, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

Sources in the police told 24News that over a dozen armed assailants first made the passengers travelling from Quetta to Taftan on the National Highway disembark from the coach, then kidnapped them before shooting all of them dead.  

Later their bodies were found dumped under a flyover.

They disclosed that the deceased belonged to Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala and Wazirabad areas of Punjab.

Of total nine passengers who lost their lives in the Noshki incident, six belonged to Chak Fateh Shah village of Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab.

A man and his nephew are also among the dead.

The deceased had left their village for Iran only three days before Eidul Fitr.

Family members of the slain passengers have demanded the authorities to send their bodies to the native village as early as possible.  

They have demanded strict action against the assassins and their backers.  

Similarly one of the passengers, who was shot dead, belonged to Chorra area of Wazirabad.

Wasiq had left his native town three days before Eid.

All these passengers had to travel to Europe via Iran.  

Sources have said that in yet another incident in Noshki, two persons were killed while five were injured when unidentified men opened fire at a car on the National Highway when the driver failed to apply brakes.

According to the SP Noshki, MNA's brother was among those injured in the attack.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned the horrible incident of killing of passengers of a bus after their kidnapping on the National Highway-40 in District Noshki, Balochistan. The prime minister expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the horrific incident and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He also offered Fateha for the departed souls. Seeking a report, the prime minister said that they shared the grief of the bereaved families and resolved that the culprits and their facilitators involved in the incident would be given exemplary punishment. The specter of terrorism would be rooted out, he reiterated.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly condemned the killings of 11 people in Noshki, Balochistan. The minister has expressed deep shock and grief over the incident and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. “The government stands by the family members of those who lost their lives in this horrific incident,” he said, adding, “There is no place for incidents like these in Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan,” he has said categorically.

On the other hand, strongly condemning the killings of 11 people in Noshki, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has said that those responsible will not go unpunished. “Killing innocent passengers is an inhuman act; an unforgivable crime,” he has said, adding, “Those behind the incident will be brought to justice.”    

The government, he has gone to say, will hunt down these terrorists who kill unarmed and innocent civilians and will not stop until and unless they all are eliminated.  Bugti has said those against peace in Balochistan are in fact the enemies of Pakistan. “The purpose of incidents like these is to disturb peace in the province,” the CM has said. He has also expressed his sympathies with the families of the deceased.

Reporters: Isa Tarin, Syed Liaquat Naqvi and Nayyer Alam