Islamabad, April 13, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the Iranian government to urgently apprehend those responsible for the brutal killing of eight Pakistani nationals near the Pak-Iran border and ensure they face exemplary punishment.
The victims, who were employed as car mechanics in Iran’s restive Sistan and Baluchestan province, were gunned down at a workshop in the Mehrestan district, near the Afghan border, according to Iranian media reports.
Among the deceased, six hailed from Khanqa Sharif, a rural area in Bahawalpur, while the other two were residents of Tehsil Ahmedpur Sharqia.
Condemning the attack as a “heinous act of terrorism,” Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed deep concern over the killings and demanded that Iranian authorities reveal the motives behind the assault. “Terrorism remains a serious threat to the entire region,” he stated, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation to combat extremism.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately reach out to the bereaved families and provide them with all necessary support. He also instructed the Pakistani embassy in Iran to expedite efforts for the repatriation of the victims’ bodies.
Grieving families have appealed to the government for swift assistance in bringing the bodies home. One of the victims, Aamir, had been working in Iran for the past year and was planning to return home for Eid ul Fitr. “We were informed that a terrorist attack occurred at the garage where he worked,” his father said. “We urge the government to help bring our loved ones back.”
Another family member, said that no official from the Bahawalpur district administration had contacted the families as of Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Chagai district administration confirmed that contact had been established with Iranian authorities regarding the repatriation process, which may take two to three days. The administration is also coordinating with the Pakistani Consulate in Tehran.
The Iranian Embassy in Islamabad issued a statement strongly condemning the attack, labeling it as “inhumane and cowardly.” The embassy said the incident was “completely unacceptable” and reiterated that terrorism continues to pose a shared threat to regional peace.
“All countries must come together to fight terrorism and extremism,” the embassy urged, highlighting that such violence has claimed thousands of innocent lives across the region over the years.
This tragic incident comes at a delicate time in Pak-Iran relations, following recent efforts to mend bilateral ties after a brief episode of heightened tensions earlier this year, when Iran launched a surprise strike against a militant group inside Pakistan.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, due to its strategic location near the Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan tri-border area, has seen repeated incidents of violence, smuggling, and unrest in recent years. Many Pakistani laborers work in agriculture and auto repair services across the border, but the latest killings have raised serious concerns about the safety of foreign workers in the region.
In a similar incident in January 2024, nine Pakistanis were killed and three others injured in a shooting near the border—just a day after Islamabad and Tehran restored diplomatic ties following a brief rupture.
