2017 Gwadar labourers shooting

2017 Gawadar labourers shooting
Part of Balochistan conflict
Gwadar Gwadar (Balochistan, Pakistan) Gwadar Gwadar (Pakistan) Gwadar
Location	Pishgan and Gant, Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan
Date	May 13, 2017
Target	Sindhi labourers working on CPEC
Attack type	Shooting
Weapons	Guns
Deaths	10
Victims	Labourers
Assailant	Balochistan Liberation Army (claimed responsibility)
No. of participants	2
Motive	Baloch Nationalism

On May 13, 2017, two militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) riding on a motorcycle opened fire on group of laborers working in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan. The road where these labourers were working was one of a network of connecting roads that form part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The gunfire resulted in the death of 10 labourers. A spokesman for the BLA claimed responsibility of attack.

Shooting

The two gunmen fired on labourers at Pishgan and Gant, which are 20 kilometres apart from each other. Eight labourers died on the spot. Two were severely injured and later died while they were being brought to hospital, raising the death toll to ten. According to an eyewitness, both gunmen came from the Pashkun area and they spoke in Balochi. A C-130 aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force was used to fly the labourers to their native areas after the funeral which was offered in Senator Marwoon Ishaq Cricket ground at around 3 pm. Law enforcement agencies rushed to the site of the attack and started a search operation.

Victims

Nine of the ten labourers were identified as: Muhammad Khan, Ali Dost, Shuban, Abdul Hakim, Rasool Bakhsh, Waheed, Zaheer and Sadam. The surviving worker was identified as Hazoor Bakhsh. All of the victims were Sindhi.

Reactions

Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sanaullah Zehri condemned the attack saying, "“Such coward attacks can’t prevent development and prosperity in Gwadar and Balochistan".