QUETTA: In a shocking incident, unidentified armed men attacked a construction company’s camp in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan, abducting 18 laborers and setting vehicles and heavy machinery on fire.
According to officials, the attack occurred late Thursday night in the Kleeri area of Naal, about 80 kilometers from Khuzdar. The gunmen first blocked the main road, halting traffic, and then stormed the camp of a private construction company working on a key road project linking Khuzdar to Basima in Washuk district, a major part of the province’s development plans.
Levis officer Ali Akbar stated that the attackers torched at least eight vehicles, including heavy machinery and transport trucks. The gunmen then forcibly took laborers from the camp and fled. Most of the kidnapped workers were from Sindh province, who had come to Balochistan seeking employment opportunities.
D-Baluch Construction Manager Zulfiqar Ahmed confirmed the incident, saying the militants initially abducted 20 workers but later released two. “Eighteen are still missing, and their recovery efforts are ongoing,” he said, adding that the attack has caused fear among employees and disrupted the company’s operations.
Following the attack, security forces including Levis, Frontier Corps (FC), and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) launched a large-scale search operation in the area. Local tribal elders have also been engaged to assist in locating the abductees.
No group has yet claimed responsibility, but Baloch insurgent groups, known for targeting construction projects and non-local workers, are suspected to be behind the incident.
This marks the second major abduction of laborers in Balochistan within a week. Just days earlier, nine workers were kidnapped from the Mastung district, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The provincial government has condemned the incident, promising that the culprits will be brought to justice. However, residents and analysts warn that such attacks are undermining Balochistan’s development and worsening its already fragile security environment.
Investigations are underway, and more updates are expected as the search operation continues.
