Balochistan CM to visit Multan following Panjgur attack

MULTAN: The Balochistan Chief Minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, is set to arrive in Multan for a brief visit on Thursday.

The Balochistan CM will land in the city at 1 pm on a special flight.

Read more: Five killed in terror attack at under-construction dam site in Panjgur

The visit follows the Panjgur attack where unknown assailants opened fire on security personnel, killing five.

The incident took place early on Tuesday near a dam construction site in the Panjgur district.

According to sources, security guards were employed by a private company to guard the construction site.

The banned terrorist organisation Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack later that very day.

As per sources, the attackers were equipped with automatic firearms and drove motorcycles. The guards attempted to defend themselves but were overwhelmed by the number of armed terrorists.

The deceased were recognised as Aminullahm Abdul Ghafoor, Hussain Ali Shah, Nawaz Ali and Zahid Ali, all local residents.

This is the latest attack by the militant group, who amped up their terrorist attacks in recent years. The rise of Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan since 2021 has emboldened many terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the BLA.

Despite Pakistan and other international actors warning the Taliban from letting Afghan soil be used as a safe haven for terrorists, little has changed on ground.

The BLA, in particular, is notorious as it mostly targets its victims within Balochistan despite claiming to be fighting for Baloch ‘liberation’.

While based in Afghanistan, it has launched several attacks on Balochistan, targeting everyone they do not consider a ‘Baloch native’, despite many ethnic minorities calling the region home for centuries.

The group aims to sow ethnic discord in a multiethnic country already struggling with ethnic tensions.

Read more: 12 terrorists killed in operations in Panjgur, North Waziristan and DI Khan: ISPR

Balochistan governor, Mandokhail, stated that some people do not want to see the province progress. He declared that the terrorists would not be able to achieve their aims.

CM Bugti likewise condemned the latest attack, stating that the responsible actors will face justice.