Pakistan: Militants shoot dead 20 labourers in Balochistan

A group of unidentified militants killed 20 labourers and wounded three others in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The injured have been admitted to hospital.

The assailants fled after the attack, which took place at 1.30 am; no extremist group has claimed responsibility as yet.

There are conflicting reports on the manner in which the killings took place.

District police official Imran Qureshi told the Pakistani daily Dawn that the armed men randomly sprayed bullets on the victims, who mostly hailed from Sindh and Punjab provinces, as they were sleeping. Qureshi speculated it appeared to be a targeted attack.

According to AFP, Akbar Hussain Durrani, a senior administration official, said the victims were lined up, asked to reveal their identity and then shot dead.

The men were employed for construction of a bridge at Sohrab Dam in Gagdon area of Turbat.

Police have cordoned off the area and security has been heightened.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch, whose hometown is Turbat, is to hold a high-level security meeting shortly to address the situation. The government has also announced compensation for the families of the victims.

Such incidents are not uncommon in Balochistan.