At least five people were killed and three others injured after unidentified armed men opened fire on local residents in Pakistan’s Harnai district in the restive province of Balochistan, officials said on Wednesday. The attack took place in the Shahrag area, where the assailants reportedly set up a temporary checkpoint and stopped civilians for identity verification before the violence erupted.
According to police officials, the gunmen were checking Computerised National Identity Cards of passersby near Sheikh Musa Baba Chowk when an argument allegedly broke out between the attackers and some locals. The situation quickly escalated, following which the armed men opened indiscriminate fire on the crowd.
Four people died on the spot, while another critically injured victim succumbed to injuries during transfer to a hospital in Quetta. Three other injured persons are currently undergoing treatment, officials said. Security forces later reached the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers, who fled the scene immediately after the incident.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, Balochistan has witnessed a sharp rise in militant violence and targeted attacks in recent years. The province, Pakistan’s largest but least populated region, has long been affected by separatist insurgency, sectarian violence and attacks targeting civilians, security personnel and infrastructure projects.
The latest incident has further raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the province. Local authorities have tightened security in surrounding areas, while investigations are underway to determine the motive behind the shooting and identify those involved.
