Nine Passengers from Punjab Killed by Gunmen After Being Pulled Off Bus in Balochistan

Zhob: Violence returned to the troubled region of Balochistan on Friday as nine passengers from Punjab were brutally executed by armed insurgents after being forcibly removed from a passenger bus near Zhob, in what authorities describe as a targeted ethnic attack.

The gruesome incident took place on the national highway connecting Quetta to Lahore. According to officials, the attackers intercepted the bus, verified the passengers’ identities through ID cards, and singled out nine individuals belonging to various parts of Punjab. All nine were then shot dead at close range.

Zhob Assistant Commissioner Naveed Alam confirmed the killings and stated that the bodies have been transported to a government hospital for autopsy and burial arrangements. “This was a cold-blooded execution,” said Alam, adding that the victims had no prior links to any security-related concerns.

This attack is part of a disturbing pattern that has emerged over the years, where ethnic Baloch insurgent groups allegedly target Punjabi civilians travelling through or working in Balochistan. Though no group has yet claimed responsibility, similar incidents in the past have been carried out by Baloch separatist factions opposed to what they describe as the exploitation of local resources by outsiders.

Adding to the night of terror, insurgents reportedly launched three additional attacks across Balochistan—in Quetta, Loralai, and Mastung. According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, security forces successfully repelled these attacks, and no casualties were reported. However, unconfirmed local reports suggest that multiple government outposts, police stations, and communication towers came under assault during the night, raising concerns of a well-coordinated militant offensive.