Five labourers mowed down in Panjgur

In an incident of unparalleled brutality on Tuesday, five laborers were killed and two others injured in an attack by unidentified assailants on the Paroum dam project site of the Panjgur district. The gunmen opened fire on the workers, resulting in immediate fatalities, according to Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government.

The injured and deceased were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, while police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, ordering law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice. "The terrorists behind this attack will not be spared," Bugti stated in his remarks, emphasising a swift response.

Balochistan Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani also condemned the assault, calling for enhanced security in vulnerable development zones. Security has since been tightened as authorities continue efforts to identify the assailants, who reportedly fled the scene immediately after the attack.

This incident underscores persistent security challenges in Balochistan, raising significant concerns over the protection of laborers working on development projects in the province. Panjgur is considered to be one of the most sensitive districts of Balochistan.

Militants in the past have also targeted labourers working on development projects in the area. This

incident came more than two weeks after 20 labourers were killed in the Duki district of Balochistan. The labourers were coal miners working in coal mines in the area.

On that occasion, unidentified armed men targeted the coal mines of a local coal company. According to district authorities, the attackers used heavy weapons, including hand grenades and rocket launchers, during the assault on the mines.

Duki District Chairman Haji Khairullah Nasir stated that the attackers targeted the coal mines, firing at the workers and setting fire to the mining equipment.

He stated that police and Frontier Corps were informed of the attack, but none of the security forces' personnel had arrived at the scene.

Police officials reported that the armed individuals gathered the workers in groups and opened fire on them. Duki SHO Humayun Khan Nasir confirmed that 17 bodies have been transported to the civil hospital, and more are being shifted.

Among the deceased, two were from Afghanistan, three from Pishin, one from Kuchlak, four from Killa Saifullah, three from Zhob, and another one from Loralai. All of the deceased and injured workers were Pashtun.