Gunmen killed at the least 22 individuals in southwestern Pakistan after forcing them out of their vehicles and checking their identities, officers stated.
The assault occurred in a single day on a freeway in Balochistan province, the place safety forces are battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence.
Officers stated the armed males checked identification paperwork and reportedly singled out individuals from Punjab for capturing earlier than setting the car on fireplace.
Militant group Balochistan Liberation Military (BLA) claimed accountability for the assault in Musakkal space.
“The variety of militants was between 30 and 40. They intercepted 22 automobiles,” senior native official Najibullah Kakar advised AFP.
“Autos coming into and leaving Punjab had been checked and other people coming from Punjab had been recognized and shot.”
The BLA stated it focused army personnel touring in civilian garments, in response to Reuters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep condolences and condemnation of the terrorist assault” in an announcement issued by his workplace.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, however though it has extra assets than different provinces, it’s the least developed.
The BLA and different Baluch separatists have stepped up assaults towards Punjabis and Sindhis from elsewhere in Pakistan working within the area. They’ve additionally focused overseas power firms, accusing them of growing the realm with out sharing income.
In an analogous incident in April this yr, 9 passengers had been shot useless after their id paperwork had been checked after getting off a bus in Balochistan.
Over the previous 24 hours, the BLA has launched a collection of assaults on a number of authorities installations, together with police stations and safety drive camps throughout the province.
Many Western nations, together with the UK and america, have listed the BLA as a worldwide terrorist group.
