ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the brutal killing of eight Pakistani nationals in the Mehrestan area of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, and called on Iranian authorities to swiftly arrest and punish the perpetrators.
According to Iranian news agency Hal Vash, the victims, all from Pakistan's Punjab province, were working in Iran as vehicle repairmen. Reports indicate that the bodies were discovered in a village in Mehrestan with their hands and feet bound.
The banned militant group Balochistan National Army (BNA) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement issued on Saturday by the Prime Minister's Office, urged the Iranian government to not only bring the culprits to justice but also reveal the motives behind this heinous act to the public.
“The menace of terrorism is destructive for all countries in the region,” Sharif stated, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to contact the families of the victims and ensure the safe repatriation of the bodies with the help of Pakistan’s embassy in Iran.
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the incident in strong terms, expressing deep sorrow and extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. “We stand by the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he said.
