...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
-bound coaches and killed at least 19 of them in Khad Kocha, a mountainous area about 70km southeast of the lovely provincial capital, in Mastung district, on Friday night.
"The gunnies killed 19 of the passengers after taking them to the nearby mountains," Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti told Dawn. He said the attackers were wearing uniform of security forces.
He said that after receiving information security forces rushed to the area and pursued the kidnappers. "Security forces found the bodies of 19 passengers in the mountains," he said, adding that security personnel succeeded in freeing five passengers from the kidnappers.
"Exchange of fire between security forces and the gunnies continues in the mountains of Mastung," he said.
Mr Bugti said the bodies had been shifted to hospital and efforts were being made to ascertain their identity.
The driver of one of the coaches was injured in the firing and brought to Sandeman Civil Hospital in Quetta. He said the gunnies signalled him to stop the bus and when he tried to speed away they opened indiscriminate fire.
The passengers, including labourers and traders, were coming from Pishin and Quetta and going to Karachi.
Balochistan Home Secretary retired Capt Akbar Hussain Durrani told Dawn that the kidnappers had taken away about 30 passengers and later freed five of them at a distance from the road. "All the passengers belonged to Pishin district and were going to Karachi," he said.
Security forces launched an operation against the kidnappers and reports suggested that five passengers who were made hostage by the gunnies were freed. The heavy gunbattle continued till late in the night.
According to sources, the gunnies intercepted the two coaches in Kund Umrani area of Khad Kocha in Mastung district and asked the passengers to get down.
Officials told Dawn that the federal government had provided two helicopters for the operation against the kidnappers. They said that taking advantage of darkness, the kidnappers beat feet from the area, taking the passengers along with them, and hid in the mountains.