Three killed, several injured in gun attack on passenger coach in Kalat

QUETTA:

A deadly attack targeted a passenger coach travelling from Karachi to Quetta near Niemurgh Cross in Kalat district, Balochistan, leaving at least three passengers dead and seven others injured, according to local police sources.

Confirming the incident, spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that the injured had been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Kalat. He also confirmed that security forces reached the scene shortly after receiving reports of the attack and secured the area.

“The injured are being provided medical assistance at DHQ Kalat. Security personnel are present at the location, and investigations are under way,” Rind said in a statement.

The attack occurred when unidentified armed men opened direct fire on the moving coach. Police and rescue teams responded promptly, transporting victims to the hospital and launching search operations in the surrounding area.

While the motive behind the assault remains unclear, authorities have initiated a full investigation. Incidents of violence along the Karachi–Quetta highway continue to raise concerns over passenger safety, particularly in Balochistan’s sensitive districts.

Condemnation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the recent attack and expressed deep sorrow over the killing of innocent civilians.

He offered prayers for the departed souls and extended condolences to the bereaved families, praying for their patience and steadfastness during this difficult time. The Prime Minister also directed authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

Terming the attack on unarmed and innocent citizens as a heinous crime, PM Shehbaz warned that those responsible would have to pay a heavy price. He reiterated the government’s and security forces’ firm commitment to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

Read More: Terrorists slaughter nine passengers

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti also condemned the attack on a passenger coach in Kalat, calling it a “cowardly and despicable act of terrorism.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the chief minister said the loss of precious lives was an irreparable tragedy. “Terrorist groups affiliated with Fitna-al-Hind have previously created the impression of targeting individuals based on identity. Now, they are indiscriminately targeting civilians,” he said.

“This clearly indicates that this war is against every ordinary Pakistani, and we will ensure it is defeated at all costs,” he added.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the attack, attributing it to terrorists affiliated with the separatist group Fitna-al-Hindustan. Expressing deep sorrow over the death of three passengers, he extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.

Describing the attack as a cowardly act, the minister said the terrorists deliberately targeted innocent and defenseless passengers. “Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists are carrying out soft-target attacks to sabotage peace,” he added, reaffirming the government’s resolve to thwart every conspiracy by Indian-sponsored terrorists with the full support of the nation.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah condemned the incident in the strongest terms, calling it an act of brutality. He described the targeting of innocent passengers as a savage crime and labelled the terrorists a cancer on Pakistan’s soil, emphasizing the urgent need to eliminate them.

The chief minister prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and extended condolences to the bereaved families, wishing them patience and solace during this difficult period.

Also Read: Three children among five martyred in Khuzdar school bus attack: ISPR

The incident comes a week after terrorists affiliated with Fitna-al-Hindustan abducted and killed at least nine passengers in Balochistan’s Loralai district.

Loralai Commissioner Saadat Hussain said the terrorists stopped the buses near the Sardhaka area, checked passengers’ identity cards, and then shot them dead.

In May this year, at least five people, including three schoolchildren, were martyred and several others injured in a suicide attack targeting a school bus in Khuzdar.

Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti said the suspected bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the school bus as it passed Zero Point near Rakhshan Hotel. The bus was ferrying students to the Army Public School located within the Khuzdar cantonment.