QUETTA — The bodies of six non-local construction workers, who were kidnapped earlier this week in Balochistan’s Kech district, were recovered on Thursday bearing bullet wounds and signs of torture, authorities said.
The grim discovery brings the total death toll from Tuesday’s abduction to seven, after militants executed one worker shortly after stopping their vehicle on the Turbat-Mand Road in the Kalatak area.
Details of the Abduction and Execution
Balochistan Home Department spokesperson Babar Yousafzai said the six bodies were found in the Nasirabad area of Turbat. Preliminary medical examinations suggest the victims were shot at close range after being tortured.
- Victim Origins: Four of the slain workers were from Punjab, while two were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Project Site: All seven men were employed on local infrastructure development projects in Kech district.
- Medical Procedures: The bodies were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Turbat for autopsies before being sent to their hometowns.
فتنہ الہندوستان کے دہشتگردوں نے بے گناہ مزدوروں کو شہید کرکے بدترین سفاکیت کا مظاہرہ کیا۔
دہشت گردوں نے مزدوروں کو نشانہ بنا کر نا صرف معصوم جانیں چھین لیں بلکہ بلوچستان کی ترقی اور عوام کے روزگار پر بھی حملہ کیا۔— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) July 30, 2026
Government Condemnation and Security Outlook
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the killings, blaming the attack on Fitna-al-Hindustan — the official term for foreign-sponsored militant networks active in the province.
| Incident / Abduction | District | Target Group / Status |
|---|---|---|
| Turbat-Mand Road Abduction | Kech | 7 laborers killed (1 found Tuesday, 6 found Thursday) |
| Karkh Flood Project Raid | Khuzdar | 4 construction staff abducted (including project manager) |
| Dalbandin-Taftan Highway Attack | Chagai | 3 excise department officials abducted at gunpoint |
“These beasts who brutally murdered non-local labourers deserve no leniency. This is a direct attack on Balochistan’s economic progress and employment opportunities for the public.”
— Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Interior Minister
According to security data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Balochistan has seen a sharp rise in insurgent violence and abductions, accounting for 52 out of 54 kidnapping cases reported nationwide in May.
