PISHIN : Unidentified armed assailants opened fire on labourers working on a road construction project in the Saranan Sulemanzai area of Pishin district on Monday, killing five workers and critically injuring another.

According to police sources, the attack occurred in the Sulemanzai area along the Quetta-Chaman Highway. The heavily armed attackers targeted labourers and heavy machinery assigned to a double-road project. The assailants arrived at the site on motorcycles and opened fire. After the attack, they fled the scene.

The deceased workers belonged to Punjab province and had come to the area in search of employment. The bodies of the slain workers and the injured person were shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

The attack drew sharp condemnation from Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, who expressed deep grief over the loss of innocent lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. "Those shedding the blood of innocent laborers deserve no leniency," Bugti said in a statement. He affirmed that attacks targeting workers and vital development projects would not be allowed to disrupt peace in the province.

Shahid Rind, Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Political Affairs, also condemned the incident in strong terms. "The targeting of innocent and hard-working labourers is clear proof of the terrorists' utter brutality," Rind stated. He added that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for Monday's attack. However, it was the second major attack in Saranan in less than a week

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