Mastung bus driver gives eye-witness account

MASTUNG: The driver of the bus carrying the unfortunate pilgrims on whom the assailants opened indiscriminate fire here on Tuesday, giving the eye witness account said 8 to 10 armed men riding two vehicles executed the heinous act and then headed back towards Quetta.

Talking to Geo News Khushhal Khan, driver of the bus, who was spared by the attackers said that first a pick up carrying the gun men intercepted the bus. They dismounted the pick up with Kalashnikovs and other heavy arms and ordered the passengers of the bus to come out, the driver added. He said, in the meantime, he got a chance and ran away from the scene to save himself.

"When I came back I found many passengers killed and others injured," Khushhal Khan said, adding the security personnel reached the spot after a lapse of around 1 and a half hour time.

Emergency services also arrived at the site of the incident and shifted the dead and injured to hospital.

Later, banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the attacks on pilgrims.

Earlier, at least twenty-six people were killed unknown armed men opened indiscriminate fire on bus passengers in Mastung. It is feared that the death toll may rise because those injured are in critical condition.

The bus was operated by a private company and several pilgrims were onboard. The bus was travelling from Quetta to Taftan.

According to the driver of the bus, 50-60 people, all males, were travelling on the bus.