Train services to and from Balochistan have been suspended following the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express.
Pakistan Railways has temporarily suspended its operations from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan.
Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch told Dawn that all passenger and freight trains to Balochistan will remain suspended until the security agencies give clearance to the area. The trains have been temporarily suspended until the situation in Balochistan returns to normal.
CEO Railways Amir Ali Baloch said that we are in touch with the security agencies of Pakistan in this regard, but he cannot tell what the situation on the ground is at the moment. However, he expressed his best wishes and prayed for the safety of all passengers, railway staff and citizens.
Railway officials said that on the request of the concerned authorities, a special train was also run from Sibi to take security forces personnel to the site of the unfortunate incident with the Jafar Express.
Deputy Station Manager of Railways Lahore Muhammad Asif said that the Jafar Express (Down) will depart from Lahore at 5:30 pm, and its final destination will be Rohri/Sukkur, now the Jafar Express will not be run up to Quetta,
He said that Pakistan Railways has canceled two trains, Shah Latif Express and Pak Business Train due to low reservations. Passengers who had booked to travel in these two trains will be taken to their destinations through Karakoram and Karachi Express.
It should be noted that yesterday, in order to spread unrest in Balochistan, the enemies of the country attacked the train (Jafar Express) going from the provincial capital Quetta to the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar and took the passengers hostage. However, the security forces rescued 104 passengers from the cowardly enemy, while 16 terrorists were killed and several others were injured in the operation.
This unfortunate incident of terrorism in Balochistan took place in the area between Gudlar and Pir Kunri in Mach, where firing was opened on the Jafar Express going from Quetta to Peshawar, as a result of which the train driver was also injured.
Security sources said that the terrorists had attacked the Jafar Express at Dhadar near Bolan and targeted innocent civilians. The terrorists stopped the Jafar Express in a tunnel and took the passengers hostage.
Despite being extremely difficult and off the road, security forces had surrounded the area and started a clearance operation. The majority of the hostages were women and children.
Security sources had said that the terrorists were also in contact with their facilitators abroad. The clearance operation was continued until the terrorists were eliminated.
