Repatriation of Pakistani Nationals Killed in Iran

The remains of eight Pakistani citizens who lost their lives in Iran’s Sistan province earlier in the week were transported back to Pakistan early Thursday.

Authorities confirmed that a special flight carrying the bodies arrived at Bahawalpur Airport around 3 a.m.

Among the deceased, seven were residents of Khanqah Sharif in Bahawalpur, while one was from Shujaabad, situated in the Multan district.

The bodies of those who tragically died in a terrorist attack in Iran have been transported to their home regions via ambulances for burial.

In Bahawalpur, collective funeral prayers for five of the deceased were conducted in their hometown of Khanqah Sharif. The prayers were held on the grounds of the Government High School and were attended by Federal Parliamentary Secretary Usman Owaisi, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Shoaib Owaisi, and many others.

Separately, funeral prayers for Muhammad Jamshed, one of the victims, took place in his ancestral village of Mehrabwala, also located in the Bahawalpur region.

Funeral prayers for Muhammad Khalid, another victim of the attack, are scheduled to be held in Ahmedpur Sharqia.

The tragic event occurred on April 12 when unidentified terrorists fatally shot the men in Iran’s Sistan province, where they were employed as motor mechanics at a local workshop.

The victims were killed by unknown armed individuals at their workshop in Mehrestan district, roughly 230 kilometers from the Pakistan-Iran border.

The Government of Pakistan has strongly condemned the attack and has formally requested that Iran apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they face justice.

The Sistan-Baluchestan region, which is impoverished, has a history of sporadic clashes between security forces, separatist militants, and smugglers transporting opium from Afghanistan.

The region has experienced multiple similar incidents in recent years, including shootings, smuggling, and border clashes due to its strategic location.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced deep concern over the incident, urging the Iranian government to quickly arrest those responsible for the brutal killings and ensure they receive exemplary punishment.

He denounced it as a heinous act of terrorism and demanded that Iranian authorities reveal the motives behind the attack to the public.

Pakistani laborers frequently find employment in vehicle repair and agriculture in Iran’s border region; however, the recent killings indicate increasing insecurity for foreign workers in the country’s eastern areas.

In January 2024, at least nine Pakistanis were killed, and three others were injured in a shooting incident in Iran’s southeastern region near the border with Pakistan, just a day after Pakistan and Iran officially restored diplomatic relations following a brief period of tension.