On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the recent deadly terrorist attacks in Balochistan as a “malevolent plot” orchestrated by militants. He made this statement during his visit to the province to evaluate the security situation.
The violence erupted on Sunday night when militants from the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks across the province, targeting both security personnel and civilians. The assaults resulted in the deaths of at least 50 individuals, including 14 security personnel. The militants also stormed police stations, destroyed railway tracks, and set fire to nearly 30 vehicles. In response, security forces killed 21 militants.
Among the casualties were 23 laborers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and shot after an identity check in Musakhail.
Upon arriving in Quetta, PM Shehbaz convened a high-level meeting with the National Action Plan’s provincial apex committee. Attendees included Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and other senior government and security officials.
PM Shehbaz condemned the attacks, calling them a product of a “corrupt scheme” by terrorist organizations and enemies of Pakistan. He expressed profound concern over the violence and emphasized the need to decisively eradicate terrorism in Balochistan through unified effort and determination.
The Prime Minister underscored the importance of Balochistan and the necessity to remove obstacles to its progress. He pledged that the sacrifices of law enforcement officers, Levies, Frontier Constabulary personnel, and civilians would not be in vain.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to combat terrorism alongside General Munir and Chief Minister Bugti, aiming to eliminate terrorism not only in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but across the entire country.
State-run Radio Pakistan reported that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, and other officials accompanied the Prime Minister. At Quetta Airport, PM Shehbaz was received by Chief Minister Bugti, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir, and newly appointed provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari. Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai and Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Abdul Rehman Khetran were also present.
Earlier, Interior Minister Naqvi had pledged support for the Balochistan government’s anti-terrorism efforts, while President Asif Ali Zardari had called for effective measures to completely eradicate terrorism.
