Tragedy Strikes: 9 Pakistani Laborers Shot Dead in Iran – ISLAMABAD 9 Pakistani workers were shot dead by unknown attackers in Iran’s province of Sistan-Baluchestan close to where the frontier between the country and Pakistan on Saturday, as neighbouring countries attempted to ease tensions following the fatal cross-border shooting.
The Iranian Mehr news agency stated the following: “According to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city” in Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Three Pakistanis were also injured during the fire that was indiscriminately aimed at Pakistanis.
The group or the individual has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The victims who perished in the tragedy were from Punjab, specifically in Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur districts.
Provincial deputy governor Alireza Marhamati told the official IRNA news agency that, according to witnesses who were present at the scene, “three armed people shot at the foreigners after entering their residence and fled the scene”.
The Iranian media stated that the incident took place at around 6:00 am, and the victims were attacked as they were asleep. All victims sustained multiple injuries from bullets and died in the same spot.
Four people died, identified by the names of Mohammad Azar, Ashfaq, Shoaib and Usman. Two of the deceased were brothers.
Additionally, the five victims are part of the Alipur Tehsil in the Muzaffargarh district, District Deputy District Commissioner Mian Usman Ali confirmed. They were in Iran for the past eight years and were on a visa worker’s visa.
As information about the deaths reached them, families of the deceased protested in front of the office of the assistant commissioner in Alipur. They demanded authorities in Pakistan guarantee the return of the remains of their beloved family members to Muzaffargarh.
According to the sources, the victims were identified as Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Shoaib and Shabbir Arain.
Pakistan demands justice
The Foreign Office demanded a comprehensive investigation as well as quick prosecution of those responsible for the gruesome attack.
“We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said and condemned the “horrifying and despicable” attack.
She stated that Pakistan’s consul in Zahedan was on his way to the hospital to assist the injured. She was scheduled to arrive within some hours due to the long distance and security concerns. The Pakistani diplomat was also scheduled to meet with local authorities to demand decisive action against those responsible for the crime.
Ms Baloch added she was working to speed up the return of remains from those who died during the attack. “This cowardly attack does not diminish Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism,” she said.
The Pakistani diplomat in Iran, Muddasir Tipu, expressed his dismay over the murders and pledged that he would provide full support to families of those who have lost their loved ones. “We have called upon Iran for full cooperation in this matter,” Ambassador Tipu tweeted.
He then spoke to two of those who were injured during the attack and assured them that Pakistan’s support was unwavering. He said that all three wounded were stable and receiving the appropriate treatment in the hospital.
The timing of the incident is significant as it occurred one day before the Iranian foreign minister’s trip to Islamabad, which is scheduled to include talks regarding border security and the issue of sanctuaries for militants on the border.
The incident, which took place just a few days after TIT-for-TAT strikes carried out by Iran and Pakistan, is likely to increase tensions between the two nations. The attack was conducted in the same area where Pakistan had earlier struck Baloch insurgent refugee camps in retaliatory strikes.
In addition to highlighting the current security issues in the region, These killings also hint at the complexity of the cross-border interactions between the two nations.
In the meantime, Ambassador Tipu handed over his qualifications to President Ebrahim Raisi from Iran on Saturday. According to Mehr media agency, the President approved Mr Raisi’s involvement in governing recent tensions in the relationship between Iran and Pakistan in an “inspiring and effective”.
“Borders are an opportunity for economic exchanges and improving the security of neighbours, and it is necessary to protect this opportunity against any element of insecurity,” President Raisi declared during his conversation with a Pakistani representative.
The Iranian President has called the two nations “brothers” and described their relationship as “unbreakable”.
Also Read: Jewish Morocco
Regional tensions
The attack that killed seven people on Saturday comes after rare military actions in the tense frontier region Balochistan, which has sparked regional tensions that were already aggravated by Israel’s conflict with Gaza.
On the 18th of January, Pakistan launched air strikes on “militant targets” in Iran two days following Iran had launched attacks within its territory.
Tehran claimed it targeted Jaish al-Adl, a militant group that has been responsible for numerous fatal assaults in Iran in the last few months. Iran listed it as a “terrorist” organisation.
The Iranian strike, which Pakistan claimed killed two children, provoked an angry rebuke from Islamabad and the city of Islamabad, which summoned their ambassador to Tehran and prevented Iran’s ambassador from relocating to Islamabad.
Also Read: Islamic History For Kids: Story of Uhud
Tehran was also summoned by Islamabad’s charge of affairs over the Pakistani strikes that left at least nine dead.
However, the two countries announced on Monday they have decided to ease tensions and resume diplomatic duties with two ambassadors returning to their respective posts.
Categories: PRAYER (Salat), ALMS (Zakat), SAWN (Fasting) HAJJ (Pilgrimage) & DUA (Supplications)
