QUETTA: Attackers fatally shot seven barbers before dawn Thursday in a home in a volatile province in southwestern Pakistan, police and a government official said.
The killings occurred near the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan province, police official Mohsin Ali said. All of the barbers were from Punjab province and lived and worked together.
Provincial Interior Minister Ziaullah Langau condemned the killings and said police were investigating who was behind the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Separatists in Balochistan have often killed workers and others from Punjab as part of a campaign to force them to leave the province, which for years has experienced a low-level insurgency by the Balochistan Liberation Army and other groups demanding independence from the central government in Islamabad. Islamist militants also have a presence in the province.
The government says it has quelled the separatist insurgency, but violence in the province has persisted.
Police said they believe the attack on the barbers was not related to their jobs. Last month, the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for killing nine people from Punjab province who were abducted from a bus on a highway in Balochistan, saying it had information that spies were on the bus.
Separatists have also targeted people from Punjab working on coal-mine projects in Balochistan.
In January, gunmen killed six barbers in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s northwest near the Afghanistan border. Pakistani militants years ago banned the trimming of beards and haircuts in Western styles.
Gunmen kill seven barbers in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province
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Gunmen kill seven barbers in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province
- No group has claimed responsibility, though Baloch separatists have targeted people from Punjab in the past
- The Pakistan government says it has quelled separatist insurgency, but violence in Balochistan has persisted
Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan seal Sri Lanka ODI series
- Pakistan chase down 289 with strong partnerships by Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan
- Sri Lanka’s 288–8, anchored by Janith Liyanage’s 54, wasn’t enough after multiple dropped catches
RAWALPINDI: Babar Azam hit his first international century since August 2023 to lift Pakistan to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second day-night international on Friday.
Azam notched an unbeaten 102 for his 20th one-day international century to help Pakistan overtake Sri Lanka’s 289-run target at Rawalpindi Stadium.
The win gave Pakistan a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final match on Sunday. Pakistan won the first match by six runs — all in Rawalpindi.
Arriving at the crease amidst a huge roar from the crowd after opener Saim Ayub fell for 33 in the 10th over, Azam played his famous cover drives to perfection.
He reached the three-figure mark with a pulled single off pacer Pramod Madushan, raised his bat to the crowd before bowing to the ground.
Azam had gone 33 ODI innings without a hundred and 82 innings in all, including Tests and Twenty20 internationals.
Azam added a 100-run stand for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman who scored an aggressive 78 with a six and eight boundaries to set up a successful chase.
Sri Lanka fumbled in the field, dropping Zaman on 20, 28 and 78 before Janith Liyanage pulled off a stunner off pacer Dushmantha Chameera but it was too late.
Building on the platform, Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out, added another 112 for the unbroken third wicket stand with Azam deservedly hitting the winning single.
Azam cracked eight boundaries while Rizwan’s knock had a six and five boundaries.
A delighted Azam said: “I was also waiting for my century, so I am thankful to the Almighty,” said Azam. “It is more delightful that it has come in the team’s win.”
Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka said: “We were outclassed by Pakistan.
“We did not score a big total and then had quite a few dropped catches which did not help us.”
Earlier, spinner Abrar Ahmed finished with 3-41 while pace bowler Haris Rauf claimed 3-66 as Sri Lanka scored 288-8 after they were sent in to bat.
Liyanage top-scored with a fighting 54, hitting a six and two fours.
Liyanage added 61 for the fifth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 42, and another 73 for the sixth with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44.
Sri Lanka made a confident start of 51 before Pathum Nissanka was run out for 24 attempting a third run.
Abrar then derailed the innings with three wickets, removing Kamil Mishara for 27, Kusal Mendis for 20 and Asalanka for six in the space of 36 runs.
Rauf dismissed Samarawickrama and Kamindu to compensate for the absence of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the match with a fever.
Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 37 off 26 balls, adding 44 at the end with Pramod Madushan, who was 11 not out.
The second ODI was delayed by a day after several Sri Lankan players considered abandoning the tour over security fears following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad, just a few miles from the stadium.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket managed to convince the players to stay with enhanced security measures.
