Barkhan attack victims bodies sent to Punjab cities

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The bodies of Barkhan victims who were killed on late Tuesday night by unidentified terrorists were sent to their native areas by the divisional administration on Wednesday.

Terrorists had targeted a Faisalabad-bound passenger coach, coming from Quetta, near Rarrkan on Dera-Quetta inter-provincial highway within the jurisdiction of Barkhan district.

The bodies were received at Bawata inter-provincial check-post of Border Military Police by Political Assistant Mohammad Asad Chandia, and were further moved by ambulances of the Punjab emergency department.

The victims were identified as Ashiq Hussain, son of Ghulam Sarwar of Quetta, Asim Ali, son of Mehmood Ali of Shamnagar, Chowburji Lahore, Adnan Mustafa, son of Ghulam Mustafa of Burewala, district Vehari, Muhammad Ashiq, son of Dilawar Ali of Nankana Sahib, Muhammad Ajmal, son of Allah Wasaya of Lodhran, Shaukat Ali, son Sardar Ali of Faisalabad, Sufiyan, son of Boota Chohan of Faisalabad.

Faisalabad correspondent adds: Two residents of Faisalabad were among those killed in the recent terrorist attack in Barkhan, Balochistan. The victims were identified as 20-year-old Sufiyan Ansari and 60-year-old Shaukat Ali.

Sufiyan, who recently secured a job at a foundry in Quetta, was returning home for the first time after his engagement was arranged a few days ago. A resident of a village near Dijkot, Sufiyan had started working at the foundry just four months ago. He was the eldest among eight siblings, and his father works as a farmer. His family had recently finalised his engagement, and he was on his way home to celebrate the occasion when tragedy struck.

Meanwhile, Shaukat Ali, a shopkeeper from People’s Colony, was traveling back to Faisalabad after attending a condolence visit in Quetta. Shaukat Ali, a mobile accessories shop owner, had travelled to Quetta to offer condolences on a relative’s passing. He is survived by his only son.

The bodies of both victims were brought to Faisalabad Tuesday night, where their families and the local community mourned their deaths.