The bodies of eight Pakistani citizens who were fatally shot in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province earlier this week arrived back in Pakistan early Thursday morning. 

A special aircraft carrying the remains landed at Bahawalpur Airport around 3:00 am. The deceased were then transported to their hometowns for burial.

Seven of the victims were from Khanqah Sharif in Bahawalpur, while one was from Shujaabad in the Multan district.

Strict security measures were in place at the airport to manage the arrival and facilitate the transfer of the bodies.  Senior officials, including the Bahawalpur Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, were present to oversee the arrangements and offer condolences to the grieving families.

The eight men, who worked as vehicle mechanics in the Meheristan district, approximately 230 kilometers from the Pakistan-Iran border, were killed on April 12 when gunmen attacked their workshop. The Baloch National Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Pakistani government has strongly condemned the attack, urging Iranian authorities to swiftly apprehend and prosecute those responsible.  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the incident as a “barbaric act of terrorism” demanding an explanation for the attack and the swift prosecution of the perpetrators.

The Sistan-Balochistan region of Iran has a history of unrest, with frequent clashes involving separatist groups, drug smugglers, and security forces.