TURBAT: The bodies of six labourers, two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and four from Punjab, who were kidnapped two days ago, have been recovered from a secluded area in Nasirabad, Balochistan, police announced on Thursday.
According to law enforcement, the victims were abducted from the Kalatak region on July 28. The deceased include four residents of Punjab and two from KP. Their bodies have been transported to Quetta for forensic examination and will later be sent to their respective hometowns for burial.
Sources within security agencies report that the militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan are responsible for the killings in Kech district. It was also revealed that the same group had executed another labourer named Javed on July 27, prior to the abduction of the six victims.
The victims were reportedly engaged in development projects across Balochistan at the time of their abduction.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the brutal murders, calling the attack an attack on Balochistan’s progress and the livelihoods of local communities. He expressed deep sympathies with the families of the victims and described the militants’ actions as “barbaric.”
Naqvi emphasized that those responsible for the killings, which targeted innocent workers, deserved no mercy. He assured the nation that the government stands united with the bereaved families during this tragic period.
Since 2021, Pakistan has seen a notable rise in insurgent activities, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. A recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlights that these two provinces continue to be the epicenters of violence. During the second quarter of 2026, KP emerged as the most affected region, accounting for nearly 61% of all fatalities linked to violence, with 475 deaths. Balochistan followed with 34% (265 deaths).
The report further states that KP recorded the highest number of violent incidents, totaling 151 cases — 57% of the national total — while Balochistan reported 94 incidents, or 35%. This underscores the ongoing militant activity concentrated in these areas, posing serious security challenges for the nation.
