Night travel restricted on major highways in Balochistan | The Express Tribune

The Balochistan government has imposed a ban on night-time travel across several key national highways in the province ami

The decision, which has been enforced through a notification issued by various deputy commissioners, affects major routes in districts including Kachhi, Noshki, Musa Khel, Gwadar, and Zhob.

According to the notification, the restriction applies to public transport, prohibiting travel from 6 PM to 6 AM. The ban covers several significant highways, including the Quetta-Taftan Road, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Road, Sibi Road, Coastal Highway, and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Road.

The move comes after multiple recent incidents, including a suicide bombing near a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally at Lak Pass in Mastung.

In a separate attack last week, terrorists killed at least eight people, including four labourers and four police personnel, in Kalat and Noshki districts.

Additionally, five passengers were executed two days ago after armed men intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar’s Kalmat area, forcibly removing the victims before killing them.

Another major attack targeted a paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway, resulting in the deaths of five people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, and injuries to 35 others.

The security situation further deteriorated with an attack on the Jaffar Express by militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The attackers blew up a railway track, took over 440 passengers hostage, and engaged security forces in a prolonged standoff.

A clearance operation by security personnel led to the elimination of 33 militants and the rescue of hostages. However, 26 passengers, including 18 security personnel, three railway and government officials, and five civilians, lost their lives.

Additionally, three FC personnel were killed in an attack on a security checkpoint before the train ambush.