This is not just news, it is a horrific tragedy. Innocent travellers, including nine people from Seraiki areas, were mercilessly gunned down in Balochistan. These unknown attackers did not just want to stop a bus, they wanted to shatter lives; they wanted to kill people on the basis of their ethnicity and domicile.
The brutality is undeniable. Imagine being stopped in a remote, barren area, singled out, dragged from a bus, and then executed at point bleak. Our hearts ache for the families facing this unimaginable loss.
This is not the first time violence has plagued Balochistan. The province has been wrestling with terrorism and separatist movements for years. These recent attacks, including the ones targeting election offices of political candidates, seem designed to destabilize the region. Moreover, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor also becomes a prime target for terrorists in Balochistan.
What happened on the Quetta-Taftan N-40 Highway is an attack on peace itself. The targeting of travellers highlights just how indiscriminate this violence is.
Awfully, the authorities have come up with their usual lip service that they are taking action. Security forces have issued their oft-heard statements that they are searching for the culprits. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaz Bugti also joins the bandwagon and has vowed to hold the attackers accountable. Statements and politics aside, these monsters must face justice.
But security measures alone are not enough. We need to understand the root causes of this violence and address them head-on. Balochistan deserves peace, and its people deserve security. Let this be a wake-up call. We can’t allow terrorists to win.
