In a significant development, the Balochistan government has announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the recent murder of seven labourers from Punjab in the coastal town of Sarbandan.

Earlier this month, a group of unknown gunmen had entered the residential quarters of a barbershop in Surbandar, Gwadar, and opened fire on the sleeping workers, killing seven and injuring one. The victims were all from different cities in southern Punjab, including Khanewal, Mian Channu, and Lodhran.

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Ullah Langau stated that all institutions had been tasked with apprehending the culprits.

“I congratulate all our institutions who fulfilled their responsibility and the government’s orders with their efforts, and we have arrested two killers of the Gwadar labourers,” he said.

Also read: Labourers killed in Gwadar belonged to same family

According to the home minister, the statements of the suspects clearly indicate that they were given orders to kill any Punjabi labourers. Langau also revealed that the suspects were members of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) organization, and one of them was a local of Sarbandan.

Terming the arrests a “great success,” Langau stated that the provincial government was devising a plan of action to deal with the “new terrorism events gaining much support” and address the inadequacies in the administration’s capabilities.

The Sarbandan killings were similar to several attacks that had taken place recently in Turbat, Gwadar, and other areas, where Punjabi nationals were targeted. This incident was the third attack on Punjabi labourers in Balochistan in less than a month.

The home minister reiterated his previous claims that foreign forces were behind these terrorist events and said that he had provided proof to support his allegations on different forums.