July 14, 2025
Rahimyar Khan — In the wake of a brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of nine Punjabi passengers in Balochistan’s Sardhaka region, Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider has called for immediate and uncompromising action against the perpetrators. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Haider condemned the killings as a “heinous crime” and urged federal authorities to intensify counterterrorism operations in the province.
The victims were abducted from two Punjab-bound buses near the border between Zhob and Loralai districts late Thursday night. Armed assailants reportedly stopped the vehicles, checked passengers’ identity cards, and forcibly removed ten individuals at gunpoint. Nine were later found dead, their bodies recovered and sent to their hometowns in Punjab under heavy security.
Governor Haider alleged foreign involvement, claiming that India was backing separatist groups responsible for the violence. “It is high time the people of Balochistan were taken on board to eliminate the insurgency plaguing the area,” he said, adding that the government must take ownership of resolving the crisis.
The governor’s remarks echo growing frustration among Punjab officials over repeated attacks targeting Punjabi laborers and travelers in Balochistan. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the latest assault, which has reignited calls for a coordinated crackdown on militant networks operating in the region.
Haider also emphasized the need for development in Balochistan’s underprivileged areas, particularly the katcha regions, stating that economic upliftment must accompany security measures. “Action against dacoits and terrorists will continue,” he affirmed.
The incident has drawn nationwide condemnation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari vowing to avenge the victims and eradicate terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the killings as “cowardly barbarism” and pledged full state force to bring the attackers to justice.
As tensions rise, the federal and provincial governments face mounting pressure to restore peace and ensure the safety of civilians traveling through Balochistan’s volatile districts.
