Diamer police have taken swift action and arrested six individuals following an attack on a bus in Chilas, resulting in the loss of nine lives, including two soldiers, and injuries to 21 passengers.
The assailants, who remain unidentified, targeted the bus from nearby hills, prompting the driver to accelerate in an attempt to escape the gunfire, ultimately leading to a fatal collision with a goods truck.
The interior minister of GB unequivocally labeled the attack as “an act of terrorism”.
Following the incident, the Diamer police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) and apprehended six suspects in connection with the attack.
The FIR was registered against unknown miscreants by Diamer police station.
According to the sources, all entry and exit points of GB were closed with heightened security measures in place. “Search operations are underway across Diamer, and traffic on the Karakoram Highway remains suspended.”
The funeral prayers for the deceased had been offered, attended by GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and top army officials. The bodies have been dispatched to their respective hometowns by Rescue 1122.
GB Interior Minister Shams Lone visited the injured at the Chilas hospital, instructing medical staff to ensure the provision of the best possible care.
Simultaneously, protests erupted in Chilas and Hunza, with demonstrators demanding immediate action and the apprehension of the culprits.
The closure of the Karakoram Highway has left hundreds of passengers stranded in Bisham, Kohistan, and other areas, with local businesses, such as a hotel owned by Muhammad Didar in Bisham, offering free accommodation to those affected, including women and children.
The situation remains tense as authorities work diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore normalcy in the region.