- Suspects attacked workers engaged in road construction.
- Police say killed labourers were reportedly from Punjab.
- Attack manifestation of terrorists’ brutal mindset: CM Bugti.
QUETTA: A case has been registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station over the firing incident in Saranan town of Balochistan’s Pishin district, in which five workers were killed, officials said on Tuesday.
According to CTD officials, the first information report (FIR) was registered against unidentified suspects under charges including terrorism, murder and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, rescue officials said that the bodies have been brought to Quetta, with rescue sources saying they will be transported to their native areas today for burial.
The firing incident took place on Monday when unidentified armed men opened fire on workers engaged in road construction in the Sulaiman Zai area, according to The News.
The assailants also opened fire on machinery being used for the construction work before fleeing the scene.
Police shifted the bodies of the deceased and the injured to a nearby hospital, and said that the victims were reportedly from Punjab.
Following the attack, a heavy contingent of police and other law-enforcement agencies reached the area, cordoned it off and launched a search operation to trace the attackers.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, saying the killing of civilians was a clear manifestation of the terrorists’ brutal mindset.
He said that the labourers were working to earn a livelihood for their families while contributing to the development of the country and Balochistan. “Those responsible for shedding the blood of innocent citizens and workers deserve no leniency.”
He said that state institutions would continue operations against terrorist elements with full force to ensure peace, development and protection of people.
The terrorists and their facilitators would be brought to justice, and there would be no place in Balochistan for those involved in killing innocent citizens, he added.
Balochistan CM’s Special Aide on Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind also condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives.
He said that targeting innocent labourers was a manifestation of the brutality of terrorists, adding that such attacks cannot undermine the resolve of the people of Balochistan or derail the province’s journey towards peace and development.
