Zhob, Balochistan | July 11, 2025— In a tragic development, Balochistan killings claimed the lives of nine passengers from Punjab after a series of coordinated attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). The victims were reportedly offloaded from public transport vehicles and executed in cold blood across multiple locations in Balochistan, including Panjgur, Surab, Kech, and Kharan districts.
BLF Claims Responsibility Through Gwaharam Media
Soon after the attacks, Gwaharam Media, known to be affiliated with the BLF, took responsibility for the Balochistan killings. It announced that the targeted executions were part of “Operation Baam” (Dawn), a so-called “political operation” spanning from the Makran Coast to Koh-e-Suleman. This recent wave of violence has sent shockwaves throughout Pakistan, particularly in the already volatile Balochistan province.
The BLF justified the brutal killings by labeling the victims as “state operatives.” However, officials and eyewitnesses have contradicted that narrative. Among the deceased were two brothers traveling from Punjab to attend their father’s funeral, making it evident that these individuals were innocent civilians.
Shocking Eyewitness Account Highlights Ethnic Targeting
One of the passengers who survived the massacre recounted the horror in an interview with The Khorasan Diary. He described how the attackers, after stopping the bus, began offloading passengers and checking their identities. The survivor said, “They put a gun to my head, and I was trembling. They asked if I was Punjabi, but I told them I was Hazara. They checked my ID and let me go.”
He continued, “The person in front of me was from Lahore. They made him stand in line with another man, and seconds later I heard gunshots and screams. That’s when I ran as fast as I could.” His testimony highlights the targeted nature of the Balochistan killings, raising serious concerns over ethnic profiling.
Victims Identified and Repatriated to Punjab
The Assistant Commissioner of Barkhan confirmed the identities of the nine deceased individuals, who hailed from Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lodhran, Khanewal, Attock, and Dera Ghazi Khan. Early this morning, their bodies were handed over to the Assistant Commissioner of D.G. Khan for transfer to their grieving families.
Officials emphasized the brutality of the attacks, particularly the killing of two brothers enroute to a funeral. This further reinforces the belief that the victims had no connection with security institutions or government operations, contrary to BLF’s claims.
Regional Tensions Escalate Amid Broader Violence
While the Balochistan killings have sparked national outrage, violence is not limited to this region alone. On the same day, Maulana Khanzeb, the Awami National Party’s central secretary for clerical affairs, was assassinated in Bajaur, further fueling instability across Pakistan’s northwestern region.
Meanwhile, Field Marshal Asim Munir dismissed allegations of India’s involvement in escalating tensions as “a baseless attempt to promote bloc politics.” He reiterated that Pakistan will not allow any foreign interference to manipulate the country’s internal security dynamics.
These Balochistan killings mark a dangerous escalation in the province’s long-standing insurgency. BLF’s deliberate targeting of ethnic Punjabis under the guise of a political operation poses new threats to national unity and ethnic harmony in the region. The government must respond decisively, not just through military means but also by addressing the grievances that fuel separatist violence or Balochistan killings.
In the wake of this tragedy, the entire country mourns the loss of innocent lives and demands justice for the victims of this senseless brutality.
