Five labourers killed in Balochistan’s Pishin attack

Five labourers working on a road project were killed after armed men opened fire on them in Pishin district, raising fresh concerns about security in the area.

The attack took place near Saranan town along the Quetta-Chaman Highway. Officials said the workers were carrying out construction work when they were targeted.

Balochistan Chief Minister’s aide for political and media affairs Shahid Rind said, “The labourers were working on an under-construction road in the area when armed men targeted them.”

According to officials, the victims had travelled from Punjab to Balochistan in search of employment.

Armed men arrive on motorcycles

A senior police officer serving in the area said the attackers arrived at the construction site on motorcycles.

The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the armed men opened fire on the labourers before fleeing from the scene.

Five workers died at the spot, while another labourer was wounded in the attack.

The injured worker and bodies of the victims were taken to the district hospital for medical treatment and other necessary procedures.

The attack has caused concern among local residents and workers, particularly because it occurred only a few days after another serious security incident in the same area.

Authorities are expected to investigate the attack and determine who was behind the shooting.

Second major attack in three days

The latest incident was the second major attack reported in the area within three days.

Earlier on Friday, armed men reportedly took control of a police station in Saranan town and planted explosives inside the facility.

The attackers later blew up the police station, causing significant damage to the building.

Officials said nobody was killed or injured in that incident. However, the destruction of the police facility raised questions about the security situation in the area.

The two incidents in a short period have increased pressure on security authorities to strengthen measures around public facilities and areas where workers are carrying out development projects.

The latest attack also highlights the risks faced by labourers who travel to different parts of the country to find employment.

Security situation worsens in Balochistan

The violence in Pishin comes as security conditions in Balochistan have shown a sharp deterioration.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, Balochistan recorded a major increase in deaths during July compared with the previous month.

The institute’s monthly assessment, released on July 31, reported that the overall death toll in the province rose from 109 in June to 372 in July.

This represented an increase of 241 per cent, making Balochistan the province where the security situation deteriorated most significantly during the month.

The figures include deaths among security personnel, civilians, militants and members of peace committees.

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Sharp rise in security personnel deaths

The report showed a particularly large increase in deaths among security personnel.

Six security personnel were killed in Balochistan in June, while the number increased to 62 in July.

This represented a rise of 933 per cent, according to the assessment.

The number of reported militant deaths also increased, rising from 75 in June to 238 in July.

Civilian deaths went up from 28 to 54 during the same period, representing a 93 per cent increase.

The report also recorded the deaths of 18 members of peace committees in the province.

The figures underline the growing security challenge facing Balochistan, where violence has affected both civilians and security personnel.

Growing concern over attacks

The Pishin incident has added to concerns about the safety of people working on infrastructure projects in the province.

Construction workers often travel from other provinces to find employment and may have limited protection while working in remote or vulnerable areas.

The killing of the five labourers has therefore raised concerns beyond the immediate security situation in Saranan.

Authorities now face the challenge of preventing similar attacks while also ensuring that development and construction activities can continue safely.

The recent attack on the police station further shows the ability of armed groups to target important locations in the area.