KHUZDAR: Unidentified armed men abducted 18 workers from a marble mine in the Nal area of Balochistan’s Khuzdar district on Saturday evening and injured another worker in a firing incident, police said.
Station House Officer (SHO) Nal Ghulam Mustafa said the incident took place near Baisar Mountain, approximately 35 to 40 kilometres from Khuzdar.
The marble mine is owned by Shah Mir Bizenjo, son of former provincial minister Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, and local tribal figure Nair Alam Bizenjo.
According to SHO Ghulam Mustafa, dozens of armed men arrived at the site in vehicles and on motorcycles. They opened fire before taking 18 workers away to an unknown location.
One worker, identified as Rashid, sustained a bullet wound to his leg during the incident. He was reported to be out of danger.
The armed men also seized two vehicles and a loader from the mining site before leaving the area. The abducted workers reportedly belong to different areas of Khuzdar district.
Police have yet to establish the motive behind the abduction. No armed group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The abduction has raised concerns about the safety of workers at mining and development sites in the region. The Nal area and other parts of Balochistan have experienced security incidents involving armed groups, including attacks on workers associated with construction and road development projects.
In a previous incident in October 2025, unidentified armed men abducted 18 labourers from a construction company’s camp in the Nal area of Khuzdar. The attackers also set several vehicles and pieces of heavy machinery on fire. The company was working on a road project linking Khuzdar with Basima in Washuk district.
Workers at remote sites can face particular security challenges because of the distances involved and the limited presence of law enforcement personnel.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the identities of the latest attackers or disclosed further details about the whereabouts of the 18 abducted workers. Their safe recovery remains a key concern as police investigate the incident.
