13 People Killed in Two Separate Incidents in Pakistan
Unidentified gunmen stormed a residential compound in southwestern Pakistan late Saturday, killing seven laborers. The attack, the latest in a series of ethnic assaults, took place at night in the country’s restive Balochistan province.
According to Panjgur City Police, the victims were all from the Multan area of Punjab and were temporarily staying in Khudabadan for work.
Zaheer Ahmed, the head of the Panjgur Police Station, told The Media Line that the workers were inside their residence in Khudabadan, an area located five miles north of the city police station, “when the vicious incident happened.” He added that “the victims were shot in the head and body. They are all believed to be relatives.”
According to Ahmed, the bodies have all been moved to the district headquarters hospital, along with one survivor, who is in critical condition.
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Following the attack, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. No group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack. Sources say that the separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), has previously targeted laborers from Punjab.
Last month, BLA claimed responsibility for the killing of at least 23 Punjab residents in Balochistan’s Musakhel district. The victims were forced out of their vehicles and shot after their identities were verified.
In unrelated news, six people were killed and eight others seriously injured when a chartered helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) crashed near the Shewa Oil Field in the North Waziristan District on Saturday, reportedly due to a technical fault.
The MI-8 helicopter was transporting 14 passengers, including three Russian pilots and crew members. Initial investigations and a statement by Mari Petroleum spokesperson suggest the crash was caused by engine failure, with no evidence of terrorism found at this time.
A Shewa police station official confirmed the deaths and reported four injuries in the incident. “Although the helicopter initially managed to land, it later lost control,’ the Mari Petroleum spokesperson said.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a statement corroborating the company’s initial findings that “the helicopter attempted an emergency landing following an engine failure. The tail rotor struck the ground during the attempt, causing the helicopter to overturn. On board were six crew members, a safety officer, and 14 passengers.”
The CAA added that the company was using the Russian-made helicopter to access remote areas for oil and gas exploration.
