Five road workers shot dead in Pishin

Unknown terrorists opened fire on a group of labourers working on a road project in Pishin district on Monday, killing five of them and critically injuring another. The attackers also targeted heavy machinery at the construction site, damaging equipment assigned to a double-road project. The attack took place in Saranan tehsil, a district in north-western Balochistan that shares a border with Afghanistan. The labourers were busy constructing a road in the Saranan Sulemanzai area. According to sources, the heavily armed attackers also fired at construction machinery deployed at the site and damaged it before fleeing the area. Police and security forces rushed to the site following the attack and shifted the bodies of the slain workers and the injured labourer to a hospital. The forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the perpetrators. The deadly attack came only days after terrorists stormed Saranan and blew up the local police station with explosives. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for that attack. The latest incident prompted strong condemnation from the provincial government, with Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressing deep grief over the loss of lives and vowing that attacks on workers and development projects would not be allowed to disrupt peace in the province. "Once again, innocent Pakistanis have been targeted and martyred in terrorism," Bugti said in a statement, adding that the terrorists had crossed all limits of humanity. He said the labourers were working to provide for their families while contributing to the development and progress of the country and the province. "Targeting them is clear proof of the brutal mindset of the terrorists," he said. Bugti said those responsible for shedding the blood of innocent citizens and hardworking Pakistanis would not be shown any leniency. "Terrorists should understand that the martyrdom of innocent Pakistanis will not weaken our resolve; rather, it will strengthen it further," he said. The chief minister said attacks targeting workers and vital development projects would not be allowed to undermine peace and development in Balochistan. He said state institutions would continue operations against terrorist elements with full force to ensure peace, development and protection of the people. "The war against terrorism has entered a decisive phase, and terrorists and their facilitators will be brought to justice at all costs," Bugti said. "There is no place in Balochistan for those who play with the blood of innocent citizens." Bugti expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the slain labourers and said the provincial government stood with them in their hour of grief. He prayed for the elevation of the martyrs' ranks, patience for their bereaved families and the speedy recovery of the injured worker. Balochistan CM's Adviser for Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind also strongly condemned the attack on the labourers in Saranan. Rind said the targeting of innocent and hardworking workers was a clear manifestation of the terrorists' brutality. "The labourers were working for the construction and development of Balochistan. Targeting them in an act of terrorism is a grave crime against humanity," he said. He added that the workers had been contributing to the construction and development of the province and were earning an honest living when they were targeted. Rind said the terrorists could not undermine Balochistan's peace, development or the morale of its people through such cowardly attacks. "The terrorists cannot shatter the peace, development, or unyielding resolve of the people of Balochistan," he said, vowing that those involved in the attack would be brought to justice at all costs. The adviser said state institutions and the people were united in the fight against terrorism and that the journey towards peace and development in Balochistan would not be allowed to be derailed. "The provincial government and people remain committed to eliminating terrorism and establishing lasting peace in the province," he added. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)