The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has released details of five members of its Majeed Brigade whom it says participated in the attack on the residence and compound of Shafiq Mengal in Khuzdar on 8 July.
In a statement issued on Sunday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch described the operation as the first phase of what the group calls “Operation Marg-e-Ghaddaran” and claimed it demonstrated the organisation’s operational and intelligence capabilities.
The group said five of the attackers were able to withdraw safely from the operation, while five others were killed during different stages of the assault.
According to the BLA, the attack began with an explosives-laden vehicle being driven into the outer perimeter of the compound by Beebarg Bangulzai alias Phullia Osama, a 22-year-old from Mastung district. The group claimed the explosion breached the compound’s external defences and caused casualties among personnel stationed there.
The BLA said a second attacker, identified as Zia ur Rehman alias Imran, 19, from Khadkucha, then entered the compound and detonated an explosive vest inside the facility, which the group claimed disabled internal security positions.
The organisation also identified Muhammad Ramzan Zehri alias Shaban, 25, from the Yakbozi area of Zehri, as another participant in the operation. The BLA said he was involved in fighting around the main entrance of the compound and was killed during the assault.
According to the statement, two further attackers, Shahzaib Baloch alias Sagaar and Shahzain Baloch alias Chedag, entered the residential section of the compound and remained engaged in fighting for several hours.
The BLA claimed the two men continued fighting until their ammunition was nearly exhausted and subsequently took their own lives rather than surrender.
The group further alleged that Shafiq Mengal escaped through a secret route during the attack.
The assault on Mengal’s compound took place on 8 July and involved a vehicle-borne explosion followed by a prolonged armed attack. The BLA previously claimed responsibility for the operation through its Majeed Brigade unit.
Pakistani authorities have not publicly commented on many of the specific claims made in the latest BLA statement.