Five labourers were killed and another was critically injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on workers engaged in road construction in the Sulaiman Zai area of Saranan, Pishin district, police said on Monday.

The workers were targeted while working on a road project in Saranan Bazaar. The attackers also opened fire on machinery being used for the construction work before fleeing the scene. The bodies of the deceased and the injured labourer were shifted to a nearby hospital. Police said the deceased labourers were reportedly from Punjab.

Following the attack, a heavy contingent of police and other law-enforcement agencies reached the area, cordoned it off and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Further investigation was underway.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, saying the killing of innocent and hardworking Pakistanis was a clear manifestation of the terrorists' brutal mindset. He said the labourers were working to earn a livelihood for their families while contributing to the development of the country and Balochistan.

"Those responsible for shedding the blood of innocent citizens and workers deserve no leniency," he said, adding that state institutions would continue operations against terrorist elements with full force to ensure peace, development and the protection of people. Special Assistant to Chief Minister Balochistan on Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind also condemned the attack, stating that targeting innocent labourers was a manifestation of the brutality of terrorists and would not undermine the province's journey towards peace and development.