Eight Pakistanis were brutally murdered in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province. Pakistan has urged Iran to ensure a full investigation and bring the killers to justice.
The tragic incident took place on Saturday when the bodies of eight Pakistani men who were employed as auto mechanics were discovered in Mehrestan, which is approximately 230 kilometers from the border between Pakistan and Iran. The fact that their hands and legs were bound suggested a grisly execution. The Baloch National Army (BNA), a relatively unknown organization, claimed responsibility for the attack. According to sources, Pakistan had sent a clear message to Iran about the presence of Baloch terrorist groups on its soil, despite the Foreign Office’s measured statement condemning the incident. The Foreign Office stated, “Pakistan strongly condemned the inhumane and cowardly killing of its nationals in Iran.”
The declaration further referred to that Pakistan’s diplomatic task in Iran has asked consular get admission to to affirm the sufferers‘ identities.according to the statement, the Pakistan embassy in Tehran and the Consulate in Zahidan, at the commands of the Deputy prime Minister and overseas Minister Ishaq Dar were in consistent contact with the Iranian government.
It stressed a comprehensive disquisition to insure that perpetrators were brought to justice as well as a prompt extradition of the victims’ remains to Pakistan.” We hope for Iranian side’s full cooperation in probing the matter and in timely extradition of victims’ remains,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called for the perpetration of a coordinated strategy by all countries in the region against terrorism, saying that the imminence of terrorism was devastating for all nations in the region.
Shehbaz expressed grave concern over the cruel payoff of eight Pakistanis in the area of Mehrestan, in Iran, and prompted Tehran to incontinently arrest the indicted and bring ahead the public the reasons for this cruel act.
At least eight Pakistani nationals were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a workshop in Mehrestan district, close to the Afghan border, where they were employed as auto mechanics, according to Iranian media reports.
Two of the fatalities were from Tehsil Ahmedpur Sharqia, and the other six were in Khanqah Sharif, a rural part of Bahawalpur. The victims had reportedly been shot at close range and were discovered with their hands and feet bound.
The government has been urged by the victims’ relatives to assist in returning the remains to their homes. Shehbaz instructed Pakistan’s ambassador in Iran to ensure the safe return of the bodies and instructed the Foreign Ministry to get in touch with the relatives of the victims.
Additionally, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad denounced a “inhumane and cowardly armed” attack and called for coordinated efforts to end terrorism, which is a persistent problem and a shared concern in the area.
“Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries to eradicate all forms of terrorism and extremism that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in recent decades,” it stated.
The Iranian authorities were committed to apprehending and prosecuting the terrorists responsible for the atrocity, the embassy said, adding that an inquiry had been opened into the murders of the Pakistanis. It stated that plans were underway to return the bodies as quickly as feasible.
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Q1. What happened in Sistan-Baluchistan involving Pakistani nationals?
Eight Pakistani men working as auto mechanics in Mehrestan, a city about 230 kilometers from the Pakistan border, were found executed. Their hands and feet were bound, and they had been shot at close range, indicating a targeted attack.
Q2. Who has claimed responsibility for the killings?
The attack was reportedly claimed by the Baloch National Army (BNA)—a lesser-known separatist group active in the wider Balochistan region that spans across three countries.
Q3. How did the Pakistani government respond?
The Foreign Office of Pakistan condemned the killings as “inhumane and cowardly.”
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and instructed urgent action.
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The Pakistani embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Zahidan are actively working with officials in the host nation.
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Authorities have requested consular access to confirm the victims’ identities and arrange for repatriation of the bodies.
Q4. What is the stance of the host country on this incident?
The embassy of the host country in Islamabad issued a statement condemning the armed attack and confirmed that an investigation has been launched. Officials pledged to track down the perpetrators and are coordinating to ensure the swift return of the victims’ remains.
Q5. Who were the victims and where did they come from?
According to reports:
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Six victims were from Khanqah Sharif, a rural area in Bahawalpur, Punjab.
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Two were from Tehsil Ahmedpur Sharqia, also in the same region.
Q6. What actions are being taken to return the bodies?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed:
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The Foreign Ministry to maintain communication with the victims’ families.
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The Pakistani diplomatic mission across the border to facilitate safe and speedy repatriation of the remains.
