Five Laborers from Punjab Killed in Armed Attack in Balochistan’s Washuk District

Five workers originating from Punjab were shot and killed by armed assailants in the town of Mashkail, located in Balochistan’s Washuk district, on Sunday, according to Deputy Commissioner Abdul Majeed Sarparah.

The attack unfolded during a period of heightened security in the province, as ongoing counterterrorism efforts, including Operation Shaban, have resulted in the neutralization of 109 terrorists since July 5.

“The attack occurred in Mashkail, near the Pakistan-Iran border, when armed men on motorcycles opened fire on shops where the laborers from Punjab were working,” DC Sarparah informed the media.

Police reports indicate that the five victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. The perpetrators fled the area immediately following the shooting.

Upon receiving reports of the attack, police and security personnel arrived at the scene to secure the area and transport the deceased to a government health facility in Mashkail.

Authorities stated that once legal formalities are finalized, the bodies will be repatriated to their respective hometowns in Punjab.

In response to the violence, security forces and law enforcement agencies have initiated a manhunt in the region to locate those responsible for the attack.

This incident follows a recurring pattern of violence in Balochistan targeting individuals from Punjab. Recent attacks include the killing of four laborers in Kalat district last March, and a February 2025 incident in Barkhan where seven people were killed after being forced off a passenger bus.

Other recent fatalities include the shooting of seven barbers near Gwadar in May 2024, an attack in Musakhail district in August involving 23 travelers, and a September 2024 massacre in Panjgur where seven laborers from Multan were killed during a home raid.

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