PM Urges Iran to Apprehend Killers of Pakistanis

  • PM Shehbaz says terrorism poses a significant threat to the region.
  • He calls upon regional countries to develop counter-terrorism strategies.
  • He directs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide support to the bereaved families.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has implored the Iranian government to promptly capture those accountable for the tragic killing of eight Pakistanis near the Pakistan-Iran border in Sistan, and to ensure they face appropriate consequences for their actions.

Tragically, at least eight Pakistani citizens, who were employed as car mechanics in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, were fatally shot by armed individuals. The incident occurred at a workshop in the Mehrestan district, close to the Afghanistan border, according to reports from Iranian media.

Six of the deceased were from a rural part of Bahawalpur, specifically Khanqa Sharif, while the other two were from Tehsil Ahmedpur Sharqia.

Expressing profound concern over this event, PM Shehbaz denounced it as a deplorable act of terrorism and urged Iranian officials to publicly disclose the reasons behind the assault.

“Terrorism continues to represent a serious danger to the entire region,” the Prime Minister stated, stressing the importance of a collaborative approach among neighboring countries to eradicate this menace.

He has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately reach out to the families of the victims and provide them with all feasible assistance. Furthermore, he has directed the Pakistani embassy in Iran to take swift action to ensure the safe return of the deceased.

In the meantime, the grieving families have requested governmental support to facilitate the immediate repatriation of their loved ones’ remains.

One of the victims, Aamir, had been working in Iran for the past year. According to his father, Aamir had intended to come home for Eid ul Fitr but was unable to do so due to border closures.

“We learned about a terrorist attack at the garage where he was employed,” Aamir’s father recounted. “We are appealing to the government to assist us in bringing the bodies of our loved ones back home.”

A relative of one of the victims mentioned that local authorities in Bahawalpur had not yet contacted the affected families as of Saturday night.

This unfortunate event has disrupted the ongoing efforts between the neighboring countries to improve relations, particularly after recent cross-border tensions that emerged following an attack inside Pakistan.

The region, situated near the Iran-Pakistan border, has experienced numerous similar incidents in recent years, including shootings, smuggling, and border conflicts due to its geographically important location.

Pakistani workers often find employment in vehicle repair and agriculture in Iran’s border region; however, these recent killings indicate increasing risks for foreign workers in the eastern parts of the country.

Last January, a prior incident resulted in the deaths of nine Pakistanis and injuries to three others in a shooting that occurred in Iran’s southeastern region near the Pakistani border, just a day after diplomatic relations had officially resumed between the two nations after a brief period of strain.