At Least 22 Killed in Pakistan After ID Checks

Not less than 22 people in south-west Pakistan have been killed by gunmen after forcing them out of their vehicles and checking their identity.

The attack happened overnight on a highway in Balochistan province, where security forces are battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence.

Reports from officials revealed that the gunmen requested to check their identity documents, and singled out those from Punjab to be shot, before setting the vehicles alight, officials alleged.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Musa Khel district.

"The numbers of the militants were between 30 to 40. They stopped 22 vehicles," said Najibullah Kakar, a senior local official mentioned.

"Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot."

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been described by some Western countries, including the UK and US, as a global terrorist organisation, claimed it was targeting military personnel disguised in civilian clothing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed "deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack" in a statement from his office.

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, is rich in resources but remains the least developed.

The BLA and other Baloch separatist groups have escalated attacks against Punjabis and Sindhis from other parts of Pakistan working in the region. They have also targeted foreign energy companies, accusing them of exploiting the region without sharing the profits.

In a similar incident in April this year, nine passengers were pulled off a bus in Balochistan and shot dead after their identification was verified.

In the last 24 hours, BLA has launched a series of attacks on multiple government installations, including police stations and security forces’ camps across province.

Read also: Five Bodies Found by Divers in Sicily Yatch Wreck