Baloch leader killed in Khuzdar attack

QUETTA: Mir Atta Rehman Mengal, the son of former Balochistan Chief Minister and ex-Ambassador to Qatar Mir Naseer Mengal, was killed along with his five security guards in an armed attack in Khuzdar’s Aranji area late Saturday night.

His son, Mati-ur-Rehman Mengal, sustained serious injuries in the assault. According to security sources, unidentified armed men attacked the guesthouse of Mir Atta Rehman Mengal in the Wadh tehsil of Khuzdar district during the night between Saturday and Sunday. A heavy exchange of fire ensued, resulting in the deaths of Mir Atta Rehman Mengal and his five guards.

Security forces swiftly reached the scene and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital. Mir Atta Rehman Mengal’s funeral prayers were offered in Badri, Wadh, on Saturday, and he was later laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard. Mir Atta Rehman Mengal was the brother of Mir Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal, head of the Jhalawan Awami Panel, and belonged to a well-known political family in Balochistan.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow and grief over the assassination of Mir Atta Rehman Mengal. He prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, assuring them of the provincial government’s full support during this difficult time.

The Chief Minister also wished a swift recovery for Mir Mati-ur-Rehman Mengal, who was injured in the attack. Condemning the incident, CM Bugti called the assault a cowardly and reprehensible act of terrorism. He affirmed that the Balochistan government will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice. “The people and government of Balochistan stand united against terrorism, and such cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve,” he added.