Khuzdar Suicide Attack Kills 14 at PPP Leader’s Residence
A deadly suicide and gun attack on the residence of Pakistan Peoples Party leader and tribal figure Mir Shafiqur Rehman Mengal in Khuzdar has left at least 14 people dead, including five police personnel. The assault, reported on Thursday, has intensified security concerns in Balochistan after a series of violent incidents across the province.
Police and security officials said Mengal survived the attack unharmed, while five attackers were killed during the security response. The incident unfolded at his residence in Khuzdar, where armed assailants attempted to breach the compound after an initial explosion at the entrance.
According to officials, the attack began when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main gate, destroying the entrance and creating a passage for other gunmen. The attackers then moved inside the premises and opened fire, triggering a prolonged exchange with security personnel deployed at the residence.
The gun battle reportedly continued for nearly three hours before security forces neutralised all five attackers. Officials described the assault as organised and coordinated, indicating that the attackers had planned both the initial blast and the follow-up armed raid to maximise casualties.
After the firing stopped, police, security forces and other law enforcement agencies sealed the surrounding area and launched a search operation. The dead and injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital and Khuzdar Teaching Hospital as authorities began collecting evidence from the scene.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, saying elements hostile to peace were trying to destabilise the province and weaken public unity. He said the provincial government, citizens and security institutions remained committed to defeating terrorism and protecting communities from further violence.
Bugti also praised Mengal’s courage during the assault and directed law enforcement agencies to identify the planners, facilitators and support networks behind the attack. He said those involved must be arrested and prosecuted so that the incident does not go unanswered.
The attack carries political as well as security significance because Mengal has previously been targeted. In December 2011, a suicide car bombing outside his residence on Arbab Karam Khan Road in Quetta killed 13 people and injured around 30 others, while Mengal and his family escaped unharmed.
The latest Khuzdar assault comes amid heightened concern over militancy in Balochistan, where security forces and civilians have faced repeated attacks in recent days. The killing of police personnel and civilians is likely to add pressure on authorities to expand intelligence-led operations and strengthen protection for vulnerable political and tribal figures.
The immediate focus is now expected to shift toward tracing the support network behind the assault, securing the area, and preventing retaliatory instability. For Balochistan, the attack is another reminder that counterterrorism efforts remain central to political stability, public confidence and the province’s wider security outlook.