At least three people, including two Karachi-based Sabri qawwals, were killed, and 13 others sustained injuries after unidentified attackers opened fire on a passenger coach en route to Quetta from Karachi near a checkpost in Balochistan’s Kalat on Wednesday.

 

This comes days after unidentified armed men in Balochistan’s Sur-Dukai area had abducted innocent passengers from two Punjab-bound coaches and slain at least nine passengers.

 

A leading English newspaper cited the Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Kalat Shahzad Akbar as saying that three people who lost their lives in the bus firing in Kalat included famous qawal Ahmed Hussain Sabri, his son Ahmed Raza Sabri, who left for Quetta along with other musicians of the group in a bus.

 

According to reports, the attack occurred when the bus approached Nemargh Cross near Kalat district. The assailants, who were waiting on top of nearby mountains, initially opened fire and then threw hand grenades at the vehicle.

 

The exact number of passengers on board the targeted bus remains unknown.

 

The injured have been identified as Haider, Imran, Manzar, Abbas, Muhammad Saqib, Faysal, Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Rizwan, Musawir Abbas, Muhammad Waris, Faizan, Dilshad, Najeeb Ahmed (driver), and Bilal Ahmed.

 

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind told a private media outlet that security agencies, district authorities, and rescue teams reached the scene immediately. The wounded were transferred to the Qalat District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, where an emergency has been declared.

 

The spokesperson stated that security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to find the assailants, noting that they are still at large. 

 

“Initial reports suggest that the attackers were waiting to strike. They closed the street from both sides,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the terrorist incident, which, according to him, was carried out by the Fitna al Hindustan — a term used for terrorist organisations in Balochistan.

 

The prime minister offered prayers for the martyrs, extending his sympathies to the affected families and praying for patience and resilience during their difficult time. He also directed authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

 

He vowed that perpetrators would not escape justice, warning that terrorists targeting innocent, unarmed civilians would be made to pay a heavy price.

 
Reiterating the government’s stance, he affirmed that both his administration and the country’s security forces were committed to eradicating terrorism from the nation.