20 miners killed in Duki coal mine attack

QUETTA: Twenty miners have been killed and several injured in a rocket attack on local coal mines in Duki, district of Balochistan province in the wee hours of Friday.

The unidentified attackers reportedly used rocket launchers and hand grenades in the assault, setting fire to machinery within the mines.

The bodies and the injured miners were rushed to nearby Teaching Hospital Loralai for medical care. 

 Police sources said that the death toll may rise further as several injured were in critical condition. They said that eight injured have been shifted to hospital so far.

Police confirmed that the victims hailed from various regions, including Pishin, Qilla Saifullah, Zhob, Muslim Bagh, Musa Khel, Quetta, and Afghanistan.

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According to police, the attackers gathered the miners into groups before opening fire. SHO Humayun Khan stated that all of the deceased and injured were Pashtun.

Teams of police and FC personnel have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. 

The coal mines are owned by Duki District Chairman Haji Khairullah, who reported that the attackers set fire to ten coal engines at the mines. He further confirmed the use of hand grenades, rocket launchers, and other heavy weaponry in the attack.

ATTACK WIDELY CONDEMNED

Interior Minister

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has condemned the deadly attack on laborers in Duki, where 20 workers were killed. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the government stands in solidarity with the affected.

“We share the grief of the victim’s families,” Naqvi said, vowing that the miscreants behind the attack would not escape justice. He added, “Those who killed the innocent workers deserve no leniency.”

Balochistan CM

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has strongly condemned the brutal killing of laborers in Duki. In a statement, Bugti directed law enforcement agencies to take effective action against the terrorists responsible. He ordered that the affected area be sealed and a tighter noose be drawn around the culprits.

“The terrorists’ agenda is to destabilize Pakistan,” Bugti said, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. “We will hold the killers of every innocent accountable,” he added, emphasizing that the terrorists will face their “logical end” soon.

He reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from Balochistan. “We will cleanse the land of the terrorists’ existence,” Bugti declared, expressing his firm belief that victory in this war against terrorism would belong to righteousness. “The terrorists will face humiliation,” he concluded.