Bereaved families condemn bus attack in Pakistan’s Balochistan

The relatives of at least 21 people killed in a terrorist attack on two passenger coaches in southwestern Pakistan have staged a protest, refusing to bury the bodies of their loved ones in condemnation of the assault and lack of security in the volatile province of Balochistan, Press TV reports.

The Saturday sit-in protest that reportedly continued for over 10 hours, was held in front of the residence of the provincial chief minister in Balochistan’s capital and largest city, Quetta. About 800 people, mainly the bereaved, also carried the bodies of the victims outside the building.

“My two cousins were shot dead in this incident. All the people shot dead in this incident are my brothers and they belong to Pashtun tribe. These people are killing us everywhere we go,” Musa Muhmmad Kakar, the relative of two of the victims told Press TV, calling upon the government in Islamabad to identify the attackers and take serious action against the perpetrators.

He also urged the Pakistani army to contain the militancy and violence against civilians in Balochistan Province.

The sit-in ended after the chief minister, Abdul Malik Baloch, vowed that authorities would work to tighten security, arrest the attackers and compensate the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, markets and all business centers in Quetta remained closed on Saturday in a move to express resentment of the act of violence and to voice solidarity with the bereaved.

Buses are attacked, 21 are killed

On Friday, gunmen attacked two buses en route to the port city of Karachi in Balochistan’s Mastung district.

Officials initially put the death toll at 19, but raised it to 21 after one passenger died in hospital while the dead body of another passenger was found in the site of the fatal assault.

Five passengers were also rescued by the security forces after a gunfight with the attackers. However, the exact number of passengers onboard the vehicles is unclear.

Hunt for assailants

According to Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, 15 to 20 assailants armed with guns and other automatic rifles were involved in the attack.

He added that a massive search operation involving 500 ground troops and backed by four helicopters has been launched to locate the gunmen.

“Two terrorists have been killed and the search and cordon operation is on,” Bugti said, adding, “We have cordoned the attackers in a large area.”

No group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but pro-Taliban militants and some Baloch militant groups have carried out numerous attacks against security forces as well as civilians in the province over the past years despite frequent offensives by the Pakistani army.

MR/HSN/HMV

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