Coal Mine Attack in Balochistan’s Duki Claims 20 Lives, Seven Injured
Citizens Protest at Bacha Khan Chowk with Miners' Bodies; Traders Declare Shut-Down Strike
On Friday, armed men attacked a private coal mine in Balochistan’s Duki area, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 miners and leaving seven others injured.
As reported, the armed attacked the Junaid Coal Company mines in the Duki area in the wee hours of Friday with heavy weapons. They fired rockets and grenades at the mines as well.
According to District Chairman Duki, Haji Khairullah Nasir, the attackers targeted the coal mines, firing at the workers and setting fire to the mining equipment.
He stated that police and FC (Frontier Corps) were informed of the attack, but none of the security forces’ personnel arrived.
SHO Duki, Humayun Khan Nasir, confirmed that 17 bodies have been taken to the civil hospital, with additional bodies being transported.
Among the deceased, two were from Afghanistan, three were from Pishin, one was from Kuchlak, four were from Killa Saifullah, three were from Zhob, and one was from Loralai.
All the deceased and injured workers were of Pashtun ethnicity, according to the sources.
Following the incident, protests erupted in Balochistan’s District Duki.
Citizens held a demonstration at Bacha Khan Chowk, with the bodies of the killed miners.
In response to the brutal attack, traders declared a district-wide shutter-down strike.
As a result, all trade centres and markets in Duki were closed on Friday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement strongly condemned the terrorist attack killing several miners.
In a statement, the prime minister called for a report from the relevant authorities regarding the incident and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country.
He expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased miners.
He prayed for the souls of the departed and the swift recovery of the injured, directing the appropriate authorities to provide the best possible medical care.