7 Punjabi travelers lined up and shot dead in Pakistan
What's the story
Seven Punjabi travelers were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Balochistan region late Tuesday night, AFP reported.
The victims were traveling on a Lahore-bound bus near the provincial border with Punjab when the attack took place.
Saadat Hussain, a senior government official, said the assailants punctured the bus' tires before boarding it and demanding to see passengers' identity cards.
Those identified as from Punjab province were then forced to disembark and subsequently executed.
Victim identification
Victims identified as residents of central Punjab province
"Later, they were lined up and shot dead," Hussain said.
Waqar Khurshid Alam, a senior administrative official, confirmed all seven victims were residents of central Punjab province.
The attackers specifically targeted these people based on their regional affiliation.
No group has claimed responsibility for this horrific act of violence yet.
Unrest history
Balochistan's history of violence and recent attacks
Balochistan, a mineral-rich area that borders Afghanistan and Iran, has seen a surge in attacks on security forces and ethnic groups.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is the most active group in the region, previously targeted ethnic Punjabis and energy projects backed by foreign investors.
Since January 1 alone, violence by armed groups opposed to the state has killed at least 67 people, mostly in western areas bordering Afghanistan.
Security challenges
Rising fatalities and security concerns amid sports event
The past year was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan as it lost over 1,600 people in attacks by armed groups, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies.
The latest violence comes just as the Champions Trophy tournament is scheduled to kick off in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Eight international teams will compete under tight security in cities like Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore.