19 people gunned down after bus kidnappings in Mastung

• At least 35 passengers of two Karachi-bound buses abducted by armed terrorists in Khad Kucha area, most of them gunned down after some time
• Intense clashes erupt between security personnel and terrorists

At least 19 people were reportedly executed while another was injured on Friday night when unidentified terrorists opened fire at kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan.

Earlier in the evening, at least two dozen suspected militants had abducted two passenger buses heading to Karachi from Pishin. A Levies official said that terrorists stopped two passenger coaches at Khad Kucha area of Mastung and shot dead 19 people after forcing them off the vehicles.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that 19 passengers had been killed by the militants. Soon after reports of abduction emerged, police and Frontier Corps official rushed to the area and there were reports of heavy exchange of fire between security forces and the assailants.

The actual number of abducted passengers has not been confirmed yet but sources estimate there were around 20 total passengers travelling in the two coaches.

Meanwhile, the DCO Mastung claimed that 25 militants had abducted around 35 passengers. Five passengers were released by the militants.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern over the kidnapping of bus passengers in Balochistan and sought a report into the incident. He directed authorities to take every possible step to rescue those abducted.

On May 13, gunmen had killed at least 45 Ismaili Shias in the port city of Karachi after forcing their way onto a crowded bus carrying members of the minority Islamic sect.

Terrorists on three motorbikes initially opened fire on the bus with automatic weapons as it was travelling through the streets of the troubled city.

After it had come to a stop they climbed aboard to continue the killing spree, with many of the unarmed civilians shot in the head at close range.