Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz condemned on Sunday the attack on the passenger bus in Chilas.

In a statement, Maryam paid homage to the martyrs and extended her condolences to the bereaved families. On this occasion, she said, "The terrorists want to halt the journey of the country's economic prosperity".

"Every citizen is standing with the security forces in a bid to end the menace of terrorism."

پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کی سینئر نائب صدر اور چیف آرگنائزر مریم نواز شریف کی چلاس سے آنے والی بس پر فائرنگ کی شدید مذمت، شہدا کو خراج عقیدت، متاثرہ خاندانوں سے اظہار ہمدردی و افسوس pic.twitter.com/tBE3IoI3OA
— PMLN (@pmln_org) December 3, 2023

She prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and prayed that the affected families bear their losses with fortitude.

– Chilas bus attack –

At least nine people were killed, and 25 others injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a passenger bus in Chilas located in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The armed assailants on motorcycles fired indiscriminately at the bus, which was travelling from Ghizer District to Islamabad.

As a result, some passengers including the driver died on the spot, while others were injured. As the driver was shot dead, the bus swerved and collided with a cargo truck coming from the opposite direction.

The assailants managed to escape from the scene after the attack.

Rescue officials said some injured were in critical condition, and they were shifted to the nearby regional headquarters hospital for treatment. The death toll could rise, they added.

A search operation had been launched by the police to apprehend the culprits.