Panjgur DC killed, four injured in shooting on Quetta-Karachi highway

Panjgur Deputy Commissioner Zakir Hussain Baloch was killed and four others were injured in a shooting incident on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway near Mastung on Monday, according to Dawn.

Baloch, along with Panjgur Municipal Committee Chairman Abdul Malik Baloch, was en route to Quetta when their vehicle was attacked by unidentified assailants near Khadkocha, Mastung. Baloch succumbed to his injuries at Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Memorial Hospital in Mastung, where he was being treated. Dr. Saeed Ahmed, the hospital’s chief executive, reported that Baloch sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach, leading to fatal internal bleeding.

The Panjgur Municipal Committee chairman, Abdul Malik Baloch, also sustained multiple gunshot wounds and has been transferred to Quetta for further treatment. He is the younger brother of Rehmat Baloch, president of the National Party’s Balochistan chapter. Additionally, two other officials were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Memorial Hospital.

Security officials stated that around 15 armed men had blocked the road and were inspecting vehicles. They attempted to stop the DC’s vehicle, opening fire when it attempted to flee.

In related news, the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee has continued its protest gatherings across Balochistan against alleged forced disappearances. Lead activist Mahrang Baloch emphasized that the Baloch struggle against oppression would persist. She criticized the state’s denial and efforts to suppress the movement through violence and false narratives, asserting that the Baloch people’s resistance remains strong.

On Monday, the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee (BYC) held a significant public gathering in Quetta to honor the martyrs of the Baloch National Gathering. The event began with the Baloch National Anthem and the National Oath, with BYC leaders highlighting the Baloch movement’s struggles, state repression, and achievements. According to the BYC, this gathering was a crucial moment for Baloch national unity and the ongoing national movement.