GILGIT — A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday in Chilas town, Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, where a passenger bus was targeted by unidentified gunmen on the Karakoram Highway. The attack resulted in the loss of at least 10 lives and left 25 others injured.

Diamer Deputy Commissioner Captain (Retd) Arif Ahmad, told media that the unfortunate event occurred at 6:30 pm in the Hudur area of Chilas. The assailants opened fire on the bus, leading to a collision with an oncoming truck. The bus, originating from Gahkuch in Ghizer, had passengers from various regions across the country, including Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, Swabi, and a few from Sindh.

The DC denounced the attack as a “cowardly” act and disclosed that two Pakistan Army soldiers were among the victims, while a member of the Special Protection Unit sustained injuries.

Diamer Superintendent of Police Sardar Shehryar reported that the Karakoram Highway police personnel were the first responders at the scene. They managed to transport the deceased and injured individuals to a hospital. The truck driver, also a casualty in the attack, was accounted for.

Shehryar mentioned that vehicles present at the scene, including those heading towards Dasu, were moved away in a convoy. The area of the incident was cordoned off for evidence collection.

The injured, including women and children, have been admitted to Regional Headquarters Hospital Chilas. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the motive remains unclear.

Expressing condemnation, G-B Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan labeled the assault on the passenger bus as an act of terrorism. He announced the formation of a special investigation team to probe the incident thoroughly. The chief minister assured that the perpetrators would face legal consequences, and the regional government would cover medical expenses for the injured.

Chief Minister Khan emphasized solidarity with the affected individuals, vowing that the blood of the martyrs would not be in vain, and justice would prevail. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining peace in G-B and warned against any attempts to jeopardize security.

Special Assistant to G-B Chief Minister on Information, Iman Shah, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing immediate arrests and justice for the culprits.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the incident, advocating stringent penalties for the attackers, and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs. Chilas, situated in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, has witnessed a rise in attacks, with some attributed to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Earlier in the week, Pakistan presented a list of demands, including the extradition of former TTP leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur, linked to the November 26 suicide attack in Bannu town, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.