Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has vowed a crushing response after nine passengers were abducted and brutally murdered by armed militants in the Sardhaka area near Zhob on Thursday night.
The victims, travelling on Punjab-bound passenger buses, were reportedly pulled off the vehicles, identified, and executed in cold blood. The attackers fled the scene, prompting a security response across the region.
“We will crush every single terror plan with full force, unwavering resolve, and complete unity,” said CM Bugti in a strongly worded statement. He condemned the attack as an “unforgivable crime” and pledged to dismantle all terror networks, particularly those linked to Indian proxies, including what he termed “Fitna-e-Hindustan.”
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred in the Sardhaka area of Loralai, when armed men intercepted two passenger buses en route from Quetta to various districts in Punjab. The gunmen forcibly removed selected passengers, took them a short distance away, and then shot them dead.
Assistant Commissioner Zhob, Naveed Alam, confirmed that nine bodies were recovered from the area, all showing signs of execution-style killings. The bodies were handed over to officials at the Balochistan-Punjab border in Bowata, said Commissioner DG Khan.
According to initial reports, the victims were from different districts in Punjab.
Government Reaction and Security Measures
Speaking to Geo News, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the incident was not random but part of a broader campaign by Indian-backed terror groups targeting innocent civilians in Pakistan.
Rind revealed that three additional attacks were launched earlier in the day in Mastung, Kalat, and Saradagai, all of which were foiled by security forces. He noted that SOPs were already in place restricting night travel on the N-70 route, but there had been no prior threat alerts for Sardhaka.
“India’s proxies continue their nefarious designs against Pakistan, but our forces will confront and eliminate every such threat,” Rind asserted.
The spokesperson stressed the importance of ongoing intelligence operations and called for public vigilance and cooperation.
PM Shehbaz Sharif: “No Mercy for Terrorists”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also issued a statement condemning the killings, promising that justice will be swift and unforgiving.
“We will deal with terrorists with full force. The blood of the innocent will be avenged,” said the premier. “With resolve, unity, and strength, we will confront the scourge of terrorism and uproot it completely.”
Rising Threat Despite Military Deterrence
The incident comes amid a concerning rise in militant activity in Pakistan. According to a June report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 85 attacks were recorded in May — a 5% increase from April — with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for the majority.
In Balochistan alone, 35 attacks resulted in 51 fatalities, including 30 civilians and 18 security personnel. Over 100 individuals were injured, underlining the continued volatility in the province despite intensified military operations.
The Pakistani military leadership has reiterated its commitment to dismantling foreign-sponsored terror networks operating within the country, particularly those linked to Indian intelligence.
As the investigation into the Sardhaka massacre continues, CM Bugti has assured the public that those responsible will face the full weight of the law and that the state will not rest until peace is restored
