Two injured in attack on pilgrims bus in DI Khan

Locals blame banned militant group TTP for gun assault

D I KHAN:

Unknown miscreants fired at a Shia pilgrim bus and left two of the passengers wounded, while the bus itself went out of control in the melee and ran over some pedestrians, causing injuries minor injuries to three.

As per reports, the Shia pilgrims were heading to Baluchistan through DI Khan when unknown gunmen opened fire on the crowded vehicle. Luckily, two men suffered wounds and the rest of the passengers escaped unhurt.

The bus driver tried to veer out of the line of fire, but lost control of his vehicle. In the ensuing chaos, he hit the mentioned pedestrians who were also lucky to escape with minor injury.

Local authorities and the Shia community claimed that the banned TTP were behind the attack

The province is no stranger to attacks on passenger coaches with a sectarian hue. In December last year, tens of thousands of people came together to voice their condemnation in a protest rally against an attack on a passenger coach in Hangu.

The assault resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals and left four critically injured in Parachinar, a district in Kurram, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

In a poignant display of solidarity, protesters solemnly carried the coffin of the deceased, Tuqir Sajjad, as they engaged in a peaceful sit-in.

Their resolute demand was for stringent action against those accountable for instigating the sectarian violence that led to this unfortunate incident.

The district responded to the call of Anjuman-e-Hussainia with a complete shutdown, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Subsequently, the impassioned demonstrators marched towards the final resting place, expressing their grief and solidarity with the grieving family.

There were fortunately no casualties in this latest attack, but the assault demonstrated that pilgrims traveling to their destinations are far from safe. Observers have noted that greater security needs to be provided to these travelers.