QUETTA: Gunmen attacked passenger bus near Mastung heading towards Karachi and killed 20 passengers and one injured after taking 35 of them hostage. Militant group forced passengers off Quetta-Karachi passenger bus near Mastung in Balochistan late Friday.
Provincial Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said all the victims were ethnically Pashtun and were travelling from Pishin to Karachi.
After the incident, law enforcement agencies launched a search operation in the area to trace the assailants. Interior minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti has confirmed killing of 21 hostages. He said Levies forces have recovered six of the kidnapped people.
The minister said forces were going after the militants. The kidnappers were at least 25 in numbers. Firing between forces and gunmen is underway. Heavy contingent of law enforcers has also been called to the spot. The buses were en-route from Karachi to Pasheen.
All Market Association, Anjuman-e-Tajran (Trade Association) and All Balochistan Hotel and Restaurant association announced a strike today to mourn the attack and show solidarity with victims.
