Pakistan’s Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove narrowly escaped an armed attack on his convoy on Friday, with six people, including three police personnel, sustaining gunshot injuries.
The attack occurred in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung district as Langove was travelling from Quetta to Kalat, according to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind.
Rind said the minister was unharmed and that his convoy eventually returned to Quetta.
“Six people were injured in the attack, but the minister remained unhurt and the convoy has returned to Quetta,” he said.
A senior police official confirmed that all six victims suffered bullet wounds, with three of them being police officers. Two of the injured police personnel were reportedly in serious condition.
The injured were taken to a hospital in Quetta for treatment.
The attack has raised fresh security concerns in the Khad Kocha area, which has increasingly become a hotspot for militant activity. According to officials, Friday’s incident was the fourth attack on travellers along the same highway since last month.
Security forces had previously conducted a major clearance operation in the area following the earlier attacks, but insurgents have apparently managed to carry out another assault.
Following Friday’s attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down those responsible.
The incident highlights the continuing security challenges facing Balochistan, where militant groups have carried out repeated attacks against security personnel, government officials and civilians.
