Protests in Balochistan's Duki after rocket attack on coal mines kills 20
1. Citizens stage protests at Bacha Khan Chowk with miners' bodies; traders announce shutter-down strike
Protests erupted in Balochistan's Duki district after a deadly rocket attack on coal mines killed at least 20 miners and left seven injured. The attack, which took place in the early hours of Friday, is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the volatile southwestern province.
"A group of armed men attacked the mines in Duki using heavy weapons, including rockets and grenades," said Humayun Khan, the local police station house officer. The mineral-rich region, bordering Afghanistan and Iran, has faced frequent violence for decades. No group has claimed responsibility for this attack.
Following the tragedy, local citizens gathered at Bacha Khan Chowk to protest, placing the bodies of the slain miners at the demonstration site. In response, traders announced a district-wide strike, closing all markets and trade centers in Duki.
Security forces, including police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, cordoned off the area around the mines and launched a search operation. The injured and deceased miners were taken to Teaching Hospital Loralai for treatment, with Medical Officer Dr. Johar Sadozai later confirming the death toll had risen from an initial two to 20.
The victims included miners from Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Kuchlak, and some who had come from Afghanistan for work. Haji Khairullah Nasir, the owner of the coal mines, reported that the attackers not only targeted the workers but also set fire to the mining machinery.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the attack and ordered action against the "terrorists" involved. He described the attack as part of an effort to destabilize Pakistan, noting that laborers are often the target of such "cowardly" actions.
Pakistan has seen a surge in militant activity since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. While much of the violence has been concentrated in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan has also been affected. In response, the federal cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June, a counter-terrorism initiative aimed at eliminating terrorism in the country under the National Action Plan.
