In a horrific act of violence, 23 passengers were shot dead after being pulled off trucks and buses at a checkpoint near Rara Sham in Musakhel district of Balochistan. The incident occurred on the interprovincial highway, where armed assailants set up a roadblock and carried out the brutal attack.

According to SSP Musakhel Ayub Achakazai the assailants stopped trucks and buses, forced passengers off, and then opened fire, killing all of them. All victims are reported to be from different parts of Punjab.

The assailants also set fire to over 10 vehicles before fleeing the scene.

Heavy police contingents and Levies officials have reached the site and transported the bodies to the hospital. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

In a separate incident, armed men set up another checkpoint on the National Highway near Raada Sham and abducted six passengers from a Daewoo bus traveling from Quetta to Faisalabad in Punjab. Two more passengers were abducted from a pickup truck during a search.

According to a passenger, the assailants checked the passengers’ identity cards before abducting them. The abductees are also from Punjab.

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The assailants, estimated to be between 20 and 25 in number, blocked the National Highway for over an hour.

The Commissioner of Loralai, Saadat Hassan, confirmed the incident and stated that 23 bodies are currently at the Raada Sham Basic Health Unit. Several trucks and pickup trucks have been set ablaze, with over 23 vehicles completely destroyed.

Mohsin Naqvi condemns incident

Federal Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack in the strongest terms and expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of those killed in the cowardly act of the terrorists.

The Federal Interior Minister said that the terrorists targeted innocent people near Musakhel, demonstrating their cruelty and reaching the pinnacle of brutality.

He said that the terrorists and their facilitators will not escape a tragic end. Every segment of society has made unwavering sacrifices alongside the security forces in the war against terrorism.