Terrorists attacked coal mines in the Dukki district of Balochistan late Thursday night, resulting in the deaths of 21 miners and injuring six others.
The workers, who were employed by a private coal mining company and hailed from various districts in Balochistan, were ambushed while on duty. The assailants used rocket launchers, hand grenades, and other weapons, also setting machinery and engines ablaze.
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Initially, the incident resulted in 20 fatalities and seven injuries. However, the death toll rose to 21 when one injured security guard, identified as Ajmal from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, succumbed to his wounds.
Among the six injured, five have been transferred to a trauma center in Quetta. Local police reported that the miners, from Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Loralai, and Musakhel districts, were taken by surprise as the attackers launched their assault under the cover of night. The victims included Abdul Malik, Mauladad, Syedullah, Jalal, Fazal, and Rozi Khan from Zhob; Naseebullah, Samiullah, Abdullah, and another Naseebullah from Qila Saifullah; Malang, Hamdullah, and Abdullah from Pishin; Bismillah from Kuchlak; Jalat Khan from Loralai; Samad Khan from Musakhel; and Wali Muhammad from Tehsil Shahrag.
The injured miners and the deceased victims were promptly transported to a nearby hospital in Quetta for medical treatment. In the meantime, police reported that a significant presence of security forces arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the information and initiated a search operation to locate the assailants. The police confirmed that the search for the attackers is ongoing.
Haji Khairullah, the district chairman, stated that 10 coal mining engines were set on fire during the attack. In response, the National Labour Federation, Workers Federation, and local tradesmen announced a protest in Dukki, placing the bodies of the deceased on the road and observing a shutter-down strike in solidarity with the victims. All business establishments in the area remained closed in protest.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack on the miners in Balochistan, expressing grief over the loss of life. He prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and instructed that they receive immediate medical assistance. The Prime Minister also requested a report on the incident, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly denounced the killings of the innocent miners, voicing his anger and sorrow over the tragedy. He directed law enforcement agencies to take rapid and decisive action against the terrorists, ordering the area to be sealed off and the attackers apprehended.
Bugti remarked that “the terrorists’ agenda is to destabilize Pakistan by targeting laborers as soft targets.” Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also extended her condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. She condemned the attack as barbaric and pledged support for the families during this difficult time.
As the nation grapples with yet another act of terrorism, the incident highlights the perilous conditions faced by laborers in Balochistan’s resource-rich areas, where they are frequently targeted as vulnerable victims in a broader destabilization agenda.
The ongoing investigation into the attack is expected to shed light on the identity and motives of the perpetrators as security forces continue their pursuit of the culprits.
