QUETTA – In the wake of a brutal terrorist attack in the Sardhaka area near Zhob, Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has vowed to launch an all-out crackdown on those responsible, declaring there will be “no mercy” for the killers.
The horrific incident, which claimed the lives of nine innocent passengers traveling from Balochistan to Punjab, has sparked nationwide outrage. According to provincial officials, armed militants stopped passenger coaches in Sardhaka, forcibly removed passengers, and selectively identified individuals before executing them in cold blood.
The deceased, all of whom were residents of Punjab, were later transported and officially handed over to authorities at the Balochistan-Punjab border, confirmed the Commissioner of Dera Ghazi Khan.
‘Will Hunt Them to the Last Man’: CM Bugti
Chairing a high-level security meeting in Quetta on Friday, CM Bugti received a detailed briefing from Inspector General Police Moazzam Jah Ansari regarding the killings.
Bugti directed law enforcement and intelligence agencies to conduct relentless operations against the terrorists behind the attack.
“There will be no leniency. Those who murder innocent people will be hunted to the last man,” he asserted during the meeting.
He labeled the killings as an “unforgivable crime” and reiterated his government’s commitment to completely eliminating terrorism from Balochistan.
Indian-Backed Proxies Behind Attack: Govt Claims
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind told reporters that the massacre was allegedly linked to Indian-sponsored terrorist networks, specifically referencing the group Fitna al-Hindustan — a proxy accused of orchestrating civilian attacks in the past.
He also revealed that security forces successfully foiled additional attacks planned in Mastung, Kalat, and Saradagai earlier in the day.
“While general threat alerts had been issued, there was no specific intelligence pointing to Sardhaka at the time of the attack,” Rind said.
Growing Security Concerns Post-India Conflict
The Sardhaka attack comes amid rising concerns over cross-border terrorism in Balochistan, especially following Pakistan’s recent military confrontation with India.
Earlier in the day, during the 271st Corps Commanders’ Conference, the Pakistan Army vowed to take “decisive and holistic action” against Indian-backed proxies operating within Pakistan.
Security agencies are now intensifying intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the province, with renewed focus on inter-provincial transit routes and known militant hideouts.
