QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove survived an armed attack on his convoy on Friday while returning to Quetta after attending a national flag-hoisting ceremony in Kalat.
Armed men hiding in the mountains targeted the convoy in the Kund Umrani area of Khad Kocha as it travelled along the Quetta-Karachi National Highway, injuring nine people, including seven police personnel deployed to protect the minister.
“Home Minister Langove remained unhurt in the attack,” a senior police official told Dawn, adding that security forces reached the site shortly after the attack, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. A heavy exchange of fire continued for around half an hour before the attackers fled.
Police and other security personnel shifted the injured to Nawab Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung. Two of the injured were civilians working at a nearby orchard.
terrorists ambush Langove’s convoy in Khad Kocha
Hospital sources said five injured people were initially brought to the hospital, followed by four others. Seven police personnel had suffered bullet wounds, they said, adding that two of the injured were in serious condition after sustaining multiple bullet injuries.
The seriously injured were referred to the Trauma Centre of Civil Hospital, Quetta.
The seven injured security personnel were identified as Samiullah, Zakari, Nasrullah, Abdul Razzaq, the driver, Muhammad Kashif and Saifullah. The two civilians were identified as Amir Muhammad and Gahoor Khan.
Speaking to the media later, Mr Langove said the attackers had been hiding in orchards and targeted the convoy from both sides. His security detail immediately returned fire, triggering an exchange that continued for around 20 minutes, he said.
The minister said he was sitting in the front seat of his bulletproof vehicle when five bullets struck the driver-side window. He expressed concern over the injuries suffered by his security personnel but said: “I cannot be intimidated by such firecrackers.” He reaffirmed his commitment to Pakistan, declaring: “Pakistan was, is and will remain alive.”
Mr Langove said the government, police and security agencies would continue operations against elements seeking to undermine peace in the province. He added that anti-state elements and their alleged foreign sponsors would not succeed in achieving their objectives.
He said such attacks could neither weaken the government’s resolve nor diminish its commitment to Pakistan.
Mr Langove, who is from the Balochistan Awami Party, was sworn in as provincial home minister in March. He had also served as the provincial home minister previously, but his appointment was declared null and void after he was de-notified on Aug 21, 2024.
Meanwhile, home minister’s media adviser Babar Yousafzai condemned the attack and praised the police personnel for courageously repelling the attack, saying they returned fire for around 20 minutes and forced the attackers to retreat.
He alleged that militants affiliated with what he described as “Fitna al-Hindustan” had targeted the convoy. However, no one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026
