Seven passengers were killed in a gun attack on a bus in Barakhan, Balochistan, after armed men stopped the vehicle on a national highway.

Security sources confirmed that the attackers created a blockade on the highway in the Rarkan area and forced passengers off the bus, Express News reported.

The victims who traveled from Quetta to Faisalabad were then shot to death after their identification card was checked.

Eyewitnesses reported that attackers were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and numbered between 10 and 12. A witness, resident of Burewala, said the bus was on its way from Quetta to Multan when the attack took place.

Local authorities have confirmed the killings and said that the armed men are still believed to be in the area. The provincial administration has stopped passenger cars at several points, including Rakhni Bewatta and Mekhtar, as a precautionary measure.

Local sources say passengers killed were taken by the vehicle after their identification card was checked.

Assistant Commissioner for Barakhan also confirmed the deaths and said seven passengers from the bus were taken off and killed.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the brutal killing of seven innocent and unarmed passengers of terrorists in the Barakhan district. He said the terrorists are targeted at innocent and defenseless people and that the feige attack by peace enemies is intolerable and will be met with a strong reaction.

He also said that those involved in the incident will be brought to court and the terrorists responsible for killing Pakistanis will face the consequences.

The spokesman for the Balochistan government declared that security forces, including Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies, have reached the place and actively pursuing the terrorists.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of seven bus passengers in Barkhan city Balochistan.

In their separately issued statements, the president and the Prime Minister asked for peace for the departed souls and strength for the deprived families to bear the loss.

“The killing of innocent people is a cowardly and abhorrent act. The terrorists are enemies of peace and humanity. They want to Marre Peace in Balochistan, ”the president said, assuring that the perpetrators would be led to the task.

Prime Minister Shehbaz instructed the authorities concerned to bring the perpetrators to justice and said the murderers of innocent citizens should pay a heavy price for their action.

“Ofra from innocent citizens will not go in vain. The government and security forces are actively working to completely eliminate terrorism from the country, ”the prime minister noted.