Unidentified armed men attacked the residence of a private school principal in Turbat, the second-largest city in Balochistan.
According to reports, the assailants first hurled a hand grenade before opening fire at the house of Sharif Zakir Baloch, the principal of Saach School and a well-known figure in Turbat.
The district police confirmed the attack, stating that no casualties occurred during the assault. Meanwhile, local sources alleged that the attack was carried out by by members of “state-backed Death Squads.”
PAANK, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), condemned the attack, describing it as part of an ongoing pattern of violence against “educated and progressive voices” in Balochistan.
In a statement posted on X, PAANK said that Principal Zakir’s brother, Hanif, was a victim of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing in October 2020.
The organization said the incident underscores a “pervasive climate of impunity” in which security forces allegedly operate “without fear of accountability.” PAANK called on the Pakistani government to launch an “independent and impartial investigation” into the attack and ensure the protection of human rights defenders, educators, and civilians in the region.