WEBDESK: PM Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the killing of eight Pakistani citizens in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province and has called for swift justice.
The Pakistani workers, reportedly from Bahawalpur, were attacked by unidentified gunmen at a car repair shop in the city of Mehrestan. The attackers tied up the men and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The banned group Balochistan National Army (BNA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In response to the tragic incident, PM Shehbaz expressed deep sorrow and grief.
“Terrorism remains a grave threat to the entire region,” PM Shehbaz said in a statement, urging neighboring countries to formulate a joint strategy against extremism.
The premier directed Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact the victims’ families and provide immediate support. He also instructed the embassy in Tehran to arrange swift repatriation of the bodies.
According to PM Shehbaz, protecting the lives of Pakistani citizens abroad is a top priority. He emphasized that terrorism in any form must be condemned and tackled through regional cooperation. PM Shehbaz said he is confident that Iran will support Pakistan in finding justice for the victims.
The Iranian police rushed to the area after receiving information about the tragic incident, and after recovering the bodies, they were shifted to the hospital.
Five out of eight victims of the firing were identified as Dilshad, his son Muhammad Naeem, Jaffar, Danish and Nasir.
Iranian authorities said the police were investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad has also condemned the killings, calling them “inhumane and cowardly.” The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and said it would work closely with Pakistan to prevent such incidents in the future.
This tragedy comes at a sensitive time when both Pakistan and Iran have been trying to improve ties after previous cross-border tensions. PM Shehbaz noted that stronger diplomatic coordination is essential to stop such attacks from repeating.
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