QUETTA: Balochistan has witnessed a series of attacks targeting civilian labourers and non-local residents in recent years, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people.
Victims have included barbers, construction workers, transport workers, shopkeepers, borewell drilling crews, and other labourers from outside the province.
Available data shows that since 2015, major attacks have occurred in Turbat, Kech, Gwadar, Noshki, Musa Khel, Panjgur, Kalat, and most recently Mashkeel.
These incidents have claimed the lives of more than 80 non-local workers and travellers. Many of those targeted were ordinary labourers who had travelled to Balochistan in search of employment.
According to security monitoring organizations, between August 26, 2006, and December 31, 2024, a total of 309 non-local people were killed in attacks across Balochistan.
Of these, 254 were from Punjab, while the remaining victims belonged to Sindh and other parts of Pakistan.
Analysts say the majority of those killed were civilians earning their livelihoods in the province.
The latest incident in Mashkeel, where five barbers from Punjab were shot dead, has once again raised concerns over the safety of unarmed workers and non-local residents in Balochistan.
Government and security officials say efforts are continuing to protect the lives and property of citizens and to bring those responsible for such attacks to justice.
