ISLAMABAD: The bodies of eight Pakistani nationals who were brutally killed in a recent terrorist attack in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province were flown back to Pakistan on Thursday aboard a special aircraft, arriving at Bahawalpur Airport.
According to the Foreign Office, the Iranian authorities handed over the remains to Pakistani officials following all necessary legal and diplomatic protocols. The repatriation process was carried out in coordination with the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and the Consulate General in Zahedan.
The victims — identified as Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Dilshad, Muhammad Nasir, Malik Jamshed, Muhammad Danish, Muhammad Naeem, Ghulam Jafar, and Muhammad Khalid — were residents of Bahawalpur and had been working as motor mechanics in the Mehrestan district of Sistan province, near the Pakistan-Iran border.
Upon arrival, the bodies were transported by ambulance to their respective hometowns for burial.
Earlier this week, unidentified gunmen stormed the workshop where the victims were employed and opened fire, killing all eight on the spot. Iranian authorities have launched an investigation into the attack and have pledged to bring the culprits to justice.
A spokesperson for the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad, confirmed the incident and assured that Iranian police have initiated a full-scale probe. “All those involved in this heinous act will be identified and punished to the fullest extent,” the spokesperson said, noting that Tehran was working closely with Islamabad on the matter.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office also confirmed the incident, stating that its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Zahedan are in constant contact with Iranian authorities and local law enforcement agencies.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and will issue a formal response once the full facts are verified,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
National Reaction
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the killings and urged the Iranian government to take swift and decisive action against those responsible.
“This act of terrorism is a tragedy not only for the families involved but for the entire region. There is a dire need for coordinated regional efforts to eradicate terrorism,” he said.
The Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide full support to the victims’ families and to ensure the dignified return of the deceased.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack, calling it a “heart-wrenching tragedy” and assured the families of the government’s full assistance.
In a separate development, Punjab Assembly member Hina Pervez Butt of the PML-N submitted a resolution condemning the killings. The resolution called on Iranian authorities to identify, arrest, and hand over the perpetrators, warning that such incidents could harm the historically friendly ties between Pakistan and Iran.
This is not the first such tragedy. On January 27 this year, nine Pakistani nationals were similarly killed in an attack in Saravan, another town located near the Pakistan-Iran border.
