GWADAR: Two labourers belonging to Punjab were shot dead in the Tump area of Kech district on Sunday, officials said.

They added that both victims were in the Srenkin area of Kech (near the Iranian border), when they were targeted by armed motorcyclists.

Upon receiving the information, Levies Force personnel rushed to site and shifted the bodies to a health facility.

The deceased were later identified as Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Naeem, who received multiple bullet injuries, leading to their death on the spot. “The victims belonging to Punjab had come to the Tump area to work as labourers” a senior official in the local administration said.

This was the second incident of the same nature that occurred this passing week. Two other labourers had been gunned down by armed men within the Dank area of Turbat. They, too, had come from Punjab to earn their livelihood.

So far, nobody has claimed responsibility for the killings.

Home Minister Ziaullah Langove took notice and asked the authorities to submit a report of the incident. He also ordered an inquiry and said the attackers would soon be brought to justice.

The attack took place around two weeks after nine men, hailing from Punjab, were killed by unidentified gunmen near Noshki after being off-loaded from a Taftan-bound bus. The bodies of the abducted passengers were found under a bridge.

Following the attack, the Balochistan government decided to overhaul the security plan and revive security checkpoints on national highways to protect passengers.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024