The Bolan Mail train traveling from Karachi to Quetta was halted at Jacobabad Railway Station on Sunday due to the lack of security clearance, Pakistan Railways officials confirmed.
Hundreds of passengers — including women and children — were left stranded for hours in sweltering heat, with no clear communication from authorities. Many voiced frustration over the situation, questioning why tickets were sold and passengers boarded if such serious security threats existed.
“If there were security risks, why were we allowed to travel at all?” asked one passenger. “We’re being made to suffer in this heat without any explanation or arrangement.”
The delay comes amid heightened security concerns following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan last month. The attack was claimed by the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which took hundreds of Pakistani military personnel on board hostage.
Since the Jaffar Express hijacking, train services across the region — especially in Balochistan — have faced severe disruptions, with increased checks and delays impacting passenger travel.
Pakistan Railways has yet to issue a formal statement on when the Bolan Mail will be cleared to resume its journey.