Four Punjabis killed in Mand, attacks on Pakistani forces elsewhere in Balochistan

Occupied Balochistan: Four Punjabis returning from Iran were ambushed and killed and two others critically injured by unidentified gunmen at the local bus terminal in the border township of Mand on Saturday. They had returned to Pakistan from the neighbouring township of Iran and when they boarded a Karachi-bound passenger bus at the Bullo terminal, gunmen approached them and asked them to establish their identity. The victims claimed to be Fars or Iranians knowing the risk of identifying them as Punjabi expatriates passing through remote township of Mand in Central Mekran. When asked to produce their identity papers, it was found that they are residents of Lahore and Faisalabad.

According to eye witness accounts, all the victims hooded their faces attracting the attention of every one passing through the bus terminal. Presumably, there was a mistaken identity considering them as personnel from the Frontier Corps, the eye witnesses claimed. The armed attackers escaped from the scene after carrying out the deadly attack.

The deceased and injured were taken to nearby private hospital where one of the injured succumbed to his injuries on arrival. Other injured are also stated to be in critical condition, hospital sources said. The deceased have been identified as Nadeem Faiz, Naeem Sada Hussain, Hassan Zulfiqar and Sikandar Qasim while injured as Khalil Bashir and Mohammad Waseem Sada Hussain. Official sources confirmed that it was a case of target killing. Levies personnel cordoned off the whole area and launched a man hunt for the culprits who killed four people and injured two others.

Meanwhile, a statement on Dailytawar attributed to BLF (Baloch Liberation Front) claimed the responsibility for the attack. The BLF spokesperson said that the killed persons were spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.

Basham Baloch of BLF talking to NNI from an undisclosed location warned Pakistan to pull its troops from Balochistan immediately otherwise Baloch sarmachaars will continue to target them. He also vowed to avenge the murder of Baloch activists being killed in custody by Pakistan military intelligence, saying that Pakistani army and their agents will not be spared.

Balochistan Constabulary official shot dead: A constable of the Balochistan Constabulary was killed when unidentified armed men attacked a security checkpost near Dera Murad Jamali on Sunday.

According to Levies’ official, the armed men attacked the checkpost on the main Chattar Road, killing constable Ali Khan on the spot. The armed men also took away his weapons before fleeing from the place. Levies’ official rushed to the spot and sent the body to a nearby hospital for an autopsy. Later, the body was handed over to his relatives for burial. Levies’ official cordoned off the area and started a search for culprits. A case has been registered against killers.

Courtesy: daily Balochistanexpress, dailytwar and daily times