A deadly passenger bus shooting in Balochistan’s Kalat district has left three people dead and at least seven others injured. Gunmen opened fire on a bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta in the Nemargh area, targeting innocent civilians. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation to hunt down the attackers.
Attack Details and Immediate Response
According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, gunmen ambushed the coach and opened indiscriminate fire. “Terrorists were sitting in ambush on both sides of the road,” he told Geo News. The bus was carrying civilians when it came under attack, resulting in casualties.
Emergency services rushed the injured to District Headquarters Hospital Kalat, where an emergency was declared. Later, Edhi Foundation confirmed that 10 people were injured and shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta.
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Security Forces Launch Operation
Security forces quickly responded. The area was sealed, and a search operation was launched to trace the culprits. Officials believe the attackers are linked to Fitna-Al-Hindustan, a term the government uses for Indian-sponsored terror outfits operating in Balochistan.
Authorities claim the group has been frustrated by recent border operations and a crackdown on smuggling routes.
Top Leadership Condemns the Attack
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the brutal act. He called it a direct attack on national peace and vowed that terrorists would face full state force. “Terrorists want to destabilize the country. But with public support, we will eliminate them completely,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed his outrage. “Targeting unarmed civilians is cowardly. We will continue our fight against Indian-sponsored terror groups,” his office stated.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti called the attack a “despicable and inhumane act.” He emphasized that such attacks reveal the terrorists’ desperation and their war against ordinary citizens.
Wave of Terror in Balochistan
This attack follows a disturbing trend. Just last week, nine passengers were abducted and killed in Sur-Dakai on the Balochistan-Punjab border. The banned Balochistan Liberation Front later claimed responsibility.
Security sources reported that the attackers had blocked the road, forced passengers off the buses after checking their identity cards, and then executed nine of them—specifically targeting those from Punjab.
Earlier this year, Balochistan witnessed several attacks on Punjabi laborers, bus passengers, and security personnel. In February, seven people were killed in Barkhan after being offloaded from a bus. In May, terrorists shot dead barbers in Gwadar. Similar attacks have occurred in Noshki, Kech, and Musakhail over the past year.
Army Officer Martyred in Separate Operation
In a separate intelligence-based operation in Awaran, three terrorists linked to Fitna-Al-Hindustan were killed. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the martyrdom of 34-year-old Major Syed Rabnawaz Tariq, who led the operation from the front.
The ISPR stated that Pakistan’s armed forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism and that sacrifices like Major Tariq’s strengthen national resolve.
Bomb Blast in Quetta Injures Women
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb exploded in Quetta’s Hazar Ganji area. The device, planted in a motorcycle, was remotely detonated, injuring three women. Shalkot SHO Khair Muhammad said security teams and bomb disposal squads were dispatched, and the area was cordoned off for investigation.
The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta and are said to be out of danger.
Nationwide Outrage and Political Response
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that India-backed elements aim to disrupt peace. He and Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani called the attack an assault on humanity.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah and PPP leaders Sherry Rehman and Shazia Marri urged swift and harsh action against the terrorists. They stressed the need for united national efforts to crush the violent agenda of separatist groups and ensure peace in Balochistan
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