<\/p>\n
Nine people were killed and 25 injured in a \u201cterrorist\u201d attack on a passenger bus in Gilgit-Baltistan\u2019s Chilas on Saturday, according to officials.<\/p>\n
Diamer DC Captain (Rtd) Arif Ahmad confirmed the development to Dawn.com<\/em>, adding that the incident occurred at 6:30pm in the Hudur area of Chilas when the bus came under fire and suffered an accident after colliding with an oncoming truck.<\/p>\n \u201cAn unfortunate incident occurred in which a cowardly act was done, targeting a bus which set off from Gahkuch in Ghizer,\u201d the DC said.<\/p>\n The official said that five bodies were identified so far while three remained to be determined. He later confirmed to Dawn.com<\/em> that an injured person died later, bringing the toll to nine deaths.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the people belong to all of Pakistan, including Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, Swabi and one or two people from Sindh.\u201d<\/p>\n DC Ahmad said two Pakistan Army soldiers were also martyred in the \u201ccowardly act\u201d while one personnel of the Special Protection Unit was injured as well.<\/p>\n Diamer Superintendent of Police Sardar Shehryar said the first responders on the scene were police officers who moved the dead and the injured, adding that the truck which had collided with the bus was also on fire and its driver killed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rest of the cars there were secured and moved from there in the form of a convoy,\u201d he said, adding that the location was secured as well to collect evidence.<\/p>\n GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan condemned the \u201ccowardly act of terrorism\u201d, said a statement issued from his office.<\/p>\n It added that a special team was formed for the investigation of the incident and a thorough inquiry was being conducted.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government will ensure that the terrorists involved in the attack are given the appropriate punishment and brought to justice. They will be apprehended and kept in custody according to the law, and strict punishment will be given. The government will utilise all its resources to apprehend the criminals.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government of Gilgit-Baltistan will bear all the expenses of the injured individuals and will ensure better medical facilities. The concerned departments have been given instructions for this purpose,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n It added that law enforcement agencies were issued strict orders for the immediate arrest of the criminals and the GB inspector general of police would oversee the process to ensure that the identification of anti-state elements could be carried out so they could be given strict punishments.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government of Gilgit-Baltistan stands with the affected individuals in this difficult time. The blood of the martyrs will not go in vain, and all the murderers will be brought to justice,\u201d the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.<\/p>\n He also said that the regional government was taking every possible step to establish peace in the region and \u201cno one would be allowed to sabotage\u201d it.<\/p>\n GB Home Minister Shams Lone also condemned the attack in a press conference. However, he said eight people were dead and 16 were injured according to the government\u2019s count.<\/p>\n Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire<\/a> with the government last year.<\/p>\n