KARACHI – The three qawwals who were tragically martyred in a terrorist ambush in Kalat, Balochistan, were laid to rest in Karachi on Thursday. The victims — Muhammad Ahmed Bashir, Muhammad Raza Ahmed, and Muhammad Asif — were part of a qawwali troupe traveling from Karachi to Quetta for a musical performance when they were attacked by unknown assailants.
The ambush occurred in the Niemargh area of Kalat, where gunmen opened fire on their bus, killing the three artists and injuring several others. The bodies were flown to Karachi via a special helicopter arranged by the Balochistan government. Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, along with officials and grieving family members, received the bodies at the Karachi airport.
In a press conference, Minister Ghani condemned the attack as a cowardly act of terrorism. He confirmed that five other injured passengers were still being treated in Kalat, while others had safely returned to Karachi. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and assured that efforts were underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The funeral prayers were held in Karachi, attended by relatives, community members, and fellow artists. The remains were then taken to their respective homes for burial.
The attack has sent shockwaves through artistic and civil society circles, who have strongly condemned the targeting of peace-promoting musicians. Authorities in Balochistan have launched an investigation, registered a case, and initiated a search operation to track down those responsible.
This incident has renewed concerns over the safety of artists and cultural workers traveling through conflict-affected areas and prompted calls for greater security and protection measures.
