Six labourers killed in pre-dawn Turbat attack

Police term incident as targeted killing

QUETTA:

Gunmen killed six construction workers and injured two others in a pre-dawn attack on their camp near Turbat, in Balochistan’s Kech district, on Saturday.

Police sources said the labourers were sleeping in an under-construction house when it was stormed by the assailants.

According to the sources, all six labourers were pronounced dead at the scene, while the injured were swiftly transported to the district headquarters hospital in Turbat for urgent medical attention.

In response to the incident, an emergency was declared at the hospital in order to provide immediate treatment to the wounded individuals. After the incident, the attackers fled the scene.

Law enforcement promptly arrived at the house and launched an investigation. "It appears that this was a targeted attack," a senior police officer told The Express Tribune via telephone. He requested anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The tragic incident prompted Chief Minister Balochistan Ali Mardan Domki to suspend the Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) district Kech and order an inquiry.

The CM strongly condemned the attack and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to book. The two injured in the attack were shifted through a special helicopter on the directives of the CM Balochistan.

The CM stated that it was a cowardly act and that the development of Balochistan could not be stopped through such brutal acts.

Also read: Nine terrorists killed in three K-P IBOs

Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai also condemned the killing and expressed sympathies with the broken families.

"The terrorists would be brought to book,” Mr Achakzai said. He stated that it was the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and properties of the masses. The dead bodies of the victims were dispatched to their homes in Punjab province on Saturday evening.

Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar also expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the attack. He urged law enforcement agencies to swiftly capture those accountable for the incident.

Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti also condemned the tragic killing of six laborers. He, expressing condolence and sympathy to the bereaved families, said neither Baloch, nor Punjabi, but terrorists had martyred Pakistanis.

Praying for martyrs, the minister said the state stood with the oppressed and those who shed unjust blood would never be forgiven. He further said the state would take action against the terrorists with full force. The minister made it clear that the sad incident was against the Baloch tradition, as they always respected and valued their guests