'Asim Munir Murdabad': Ziarat Ambush Rocks Quetta As Kin Clash Over Bodies Of Slain Cops
'Asim Munir Murdabad': Ziarat Ambush Rocks Quetta As Kin Clash Over Bodies Of Slain Cops Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 09, 2026, 14:28
'Asim Munir Murdabad': Ziarat Ambush Rocks Quetta As Kin Clash Over Bodies Of Slain Cops Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 09, 2026, 14:28 IST Heavily armed militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army stormed multiple police checkposts in Ziarat district on Wednesday, killing several policemen Rapid Read Relatives gather around the body of a slain policeman at District Headquarters Hospital in Ziarat, in Balochistan province. (AFP) Tensions ran high at the Civil Hospital in Quetta on Thursday after the bodies of at least 21 policemen killed in the deadly ambush in Balochistan’s Ziarat district were brought to the facility, triggering protests by grieving families and a standoff with Pakistani security forces. According to videos and information emerging from the hospital, large crowds gathered outside the civil hospital demanding that the authorities immediately hand over the bodies of the slain personnel for burial. Protesters raised slogans against Pakistan’s military leadership, including “Asim Munir Murdabad" and “Pak Fauj Murdabad", reflecting growing anger over the handling of the aftermath of the attack.
The situation turned volatile after security personnel reportedly took control of the hospital premises and refused to release the bodies to the victims’ families. Witnesses claimed authorities were attempting to move the bodies to police lines instead of allowing relatives to take them home. Several family members blocked the hospital gates, insisting that no burial would take place until the bodies were handed over. “No burial until justice", protesters were heard shouting as they staged a sit-in outside the hospital. Authorities also sealed routes leading to the Civil Hospital, with Balochistan Police erecting barricades around the area to prevent more protesters from gathering. The heavy security presence further heightened tensions as crowds continued to swell. The protest comes a day after one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent months. On Wednesday, heavily armed militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) stormed multiple police checkposts in Ziarat district, killing at least 17 policemen and taking around 15 others hostage, according to sources familiar with the operation.
Local residents later recovered several bodies from the attack site before authorities reached the area, leading to allegations from families that they had located and retrieved the victims “on a self-help basis" while state agencies failed to respond in time. The bodies were subsequently transported to Quetta for post-mortem and identification, but their arrival at the Civil Hospital sparked fresh controversy after officials allegedly declined to hand them over to relatives. Videos circulating on social media showed emotionally charged scenes, with family members confronting police personnel and chanting anti-military slogans inside and outside the hospital complex. The standoff underscored growing public resentment in parts of Balochistan over repeated militant attacks and accusations that the Pakistani state has failed to provide adequate security despite maintaining a heavy military presence in the province. The Ziarat ambush marked one of the most significant attacks carried out by the BLA this year. The separatist outfit has intensified operations in recent months, targeting Pakistani security forces, government installations and infrastructure across Balochistan.
The BriefWire