4 Killed and 12 injured in Nasirabad, Balochistan by unidentified attackers.
In Nasirabad, in Balochistan, Pakistan, 4 died and 12 people were injured by unidentified attackers, who opened fire at a van carrying a wedding party.
According to the local police, the van had women and children in it, who were all heading to Gandawah on Saturday. Motorcycle-riding attackers attacked them near the Soheje Levies checkpoint.
Jhal Magsi’s Deputy Commissioner told the media that 4 people, including a woman, perished on spot and 12 others sustained injuries. They were initially taken to the district hospital of Gandawah where 4 people with the critical condition are being shifted to Quetta.
The attackers have not been identified yet but police have assured that a search operation has been launched to find them.
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The Chief Minister’s reaction
The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has taken notice of the incident and has asked for a detailed report from the Deputy Commissioner. Officials have been asked to find the culprit and provide the best possible treatment for the injured.
Another shooting in Zhob
In another district of Balochistan, Zhob, seven others, including a tribal leader and his brothers were killed after unidentified shooters fired at their vehicle. The tribal leader, Ahmed Khan Kibzai, his brothers and some others were in the vehicle. They were attacked in Khurlam, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where the shooters attacked with automatic assault weapons. 7 people were killed and one person was injured. According to Levies officials Kibzai and his brothers’ bodies were charred and the vehicle caught on fire. He added that the victims were not given any chance to flee.
Officials rushed to the spot after receiving information and the bodies and the injured to the district hospital in Zhob. The hospital sources confirmed that they received seven bodies, all of whom had multiple bullet injuries and one injured person
The reason behind the attack is still under investigation. However, Kibzai was wanted by Levies Force and was an absconder. He had tribal enmity according to the police. The police are suspecting that the attacks may have been caused by tribal enmity.
Brief history of Balochistan
Balochistan was a semi-autonomous part of the British Empire in the pre-independence era. After independence Balochistan became a part of Pakistan. The official Pakistani narrative claims that Baloch was annexed with the vote of the people. However, this claim has been challenged by some questioning the legitimacy of the voting. The president of the Balochistan Muslim League, Qazi Muhammad Isa had said that the representatives of the Kalat state were stopped from voting and only the representatives of the British parts were allowed to vote.
The Baloch National Movement
Recently, members of The Baloch National Movement protested against Pakistan in Germany. Asghar Ali, the president of The Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter has claimed that Pakistan has implemented colonial policies in Pakistan. He continued by saying that Pakistan has been trying to dominate the people of Balochistan by stereotyping them as primitive tribes. People of Balochistan have been deprived of modern education and religion is being used as a tool to maintain control, Ali said.
According to him, Baloch intellectuals and leaders, who spoke against Pakistan, are being targeted. Asghar also said that the Baloch people depend on cross-border trading but Pakistan’s decision of closing free trade on the Iranian border has had an adversarial effect on the Baloch. People have lost their livelihoods.
