QUETTA: The Balochistan government has enforced a nighttime travel ban on national highways across the province. The decision, taken due to the worsening Balochistan security situation, was announced through notifications issued by several deputy commissioners.
Travel restrictions will be in place from 6 PM to 6 AM. The affected routes include Sibi Road, Zhob-DI Khan Road, Coastal Highway, Quetta-Taftan Highway, and Loralai-DG Khan Highway. Authorities took this step following a surge in terrorist incidents that have destabilized the region.
Just a day earlier, a suicide bombing targeted a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally near Mastung’s Lak Pass. This attack came soon after terrorists executed at least eight individuals, including four laborers and four police officers, in Kalat and Noshki districts.
Adding to the chaos, five passengers were brutally killed two days ago after armed assailants intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar’s Kalmat area. The attackers forcibly removed the victims before executing them. Another deadly strike hit a paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, and injuries to 35 others.
In one of the most severe incidents, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants launched a coordinated attack on the Jaffar Express. The attackers blew up a railway track and took more than 440 passengers hostage. After a complex security operation, 33 terrorists were eliminated, and the hostages were rescued. However, the attack claimed 26 lives, including 18 security personnel from the Pakistan Army and FC, three railway officials, and five civilians. Additionally, three FC soldiers lost their lives in a separate assault on a security post before the train ambush.
The Balochistan security situation remains tense, with socio-political unrest adding to the instability. The arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, has further fueled tensions. She is currently detained at Quetta District Jail under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance for allegedly orchestrating a violent attack on Civil Hospital and attempting to remove the bodies of Jaffar Express bombing suspects.
BYC leaders are facing serious charges, including terrorism, murder, incitement to violence, and rebellion. Authorities accuse them of spreading racial hatred and causing destruction in the region. Meanwhile, security forces continue their crackdown on militant groups. In a recent intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kalat district, six terrorists were eliminated. The militants were allegedly involved in multiple attacks targeting both civilians and security forces.
The Balochistan security situation remains a top concern for authorities. Law enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to restore order and prevent further bloodshed. The nighttime travel ban is part of a broader strategy to safeguard lives and counter the rising threats in the province.
