Seven workers killed in terrorist attack at Gwadar port: Police

At least seven workers were killed in a terrorist attack by unknown perpetrators in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar in the restive Balochistan province on May 9.

According to Gwadar Police Station Officer (SHO) Mohsin Ali, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a residential area near Gwadar fish port in Surbandar area, leaving seven dead and one injured. Geo news reported.

The police officer said that the dead and injured used to work at a hair salon in the area and belonged to Khanewal district of Punjab.

The bodies and the injured person were all taken to Gwadar Hospital, police said.

However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Balochistan Prime Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killing of the workers in Gwadar.

Mr Bugti also called for a report on the issue, claiming that “all types of force are being used to arrest the terrorists and their supporters”.

Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau has ordered a probe into the killing of the seven deceased, terming it as “outright terrorism”.

The minister said the killing of workers was a cowardly act and strict action would be taken against terrorists.

This incident came at least three weeks after unknown assailants shot dead 11 people in separate terror attacks in Nushki district of Balochistan.

Nine of the deceased, who were from Punjab, were traveling in a bus on the National Highway from Quetta to Taftan when they were stopped by the militants, pulled out of the bus and kidnapped.

Similarly, on March 20, security forces responded quickly and foiled a fierce attack after a group of armed men stormed the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) colony.