A football team from Karachi District West faced a terrifying ordeal on Monday evening when their bus was intercepted by armed insurgents while traveling to Quetta. The squad was en route to participate in the Chief Minister’s Gold Cup tournament when the vehicle was stopped on the highway between Mastung and Sariab in Balochistan province.
According to reports, a group of approximately a dozen armed men forced the passengers to disembark from the bus. During the robbery, the assailants seized mobile phones, cash, and various personal valuables from the players and staff. The team manager, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, confirmed that the attackers also physically assaulted some of the passengers by striking them with the butts of their weapons.
Security Concerns and Official Response
Upon arriving in Quetta following the incident, the team reported the robbery to the Balochistan sports minister. In response to the players being left without funds or personal belongings, the minister intervened to provide the squad with daily allowances to support them during their stay.
The incident has highlighted significant security risks associated with travel in the region. Muhammad Azam, secretary of the
Regional Security Context
The highway connecting Mastung district to Quetta has increasingly become a site for criminal activity, with insurgent groups frequently targeting travelers. This latest robbery follows other recent security incidents in the province, including the reported abduction of two local cricketers in Dera Bugti just days prior. The Karachi District West team's experience underscores the ongoing challenges faced by sports organizations operating in areas where travel security remains a critical issue.
