A prominent businessman and hotel owner was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Quetta’s Kuchlak Bypass on Saturday, prompting protests that blocked a key national highway linking Balochistan with Chaman, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

According to police, the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Airport Police Station when Muhammad Hashim Khan was travelling from Kuchlak to Quetta in his private Vigo. Unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Police said Khan sustained a gunshot wound to the head and two bullets to his arms, dying on the spot.

Law enforcement personnel reached the site and shifted the body to Civil Hospital Quetta for legal formalities and a post-mortem examination before handing it over to the family.

Police said the victim’s relatives had not indicated any known personal enmity in their initial statements.

Investigators have collected evidence from the crime scene and launched a search for the attackers while examining multiple possible motives behind the killing.

Following the incident, the victim’s family, members of the business community and civil society staged a protest at Bileli, blocking the national highway connecting Quetta with Chaman, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The blockade caused long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road.

Member of the Balochistan Assembly Malik Naeem Bazai, the Deputy Commissioner Quetta and other officials reached the protest site, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and held negotiations to persuade protesters to reopen the highway.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove strongly condemned the killing and sought an immediate report from the Inspector General of Police.

The chief minister directed that the case be handed over to the Special Investigation Unit and ordered a transparent and effective investigation, saying the perpetrators would be brought to justice and the victim’s family would receive justice.

Explosion near Mian Ghundi

In a separate incident later in the day, an explosion occurred near Mian Ghundi close to a police vehicle transporting prisoners.

Police said the blast caused partial damage to the vehicle but resulted in no casualties. The area was cordoned off, evidence was collected, and an investigation into the explosion is underway.