- Ex-minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Advisor to KP’s CM Barrister Saif propose trilateral anti-terror mechanism with Afghanistan
- Iranian envoy assures Iran will hunt down perpetrators behind April 12 killing of eight Pakistani laborers and reveal their identities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani politicians on Tuesday demanded Iran expedite the identification and prosecution of perpetrators behind the April 12 killing of eight Pakistani laborers in its Sistan-Balochistan province, while calling for enhanced protections for migrant workers.
The demands were presented during a meeting at the Iranian Embassy, where former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s Adviser Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif held talks with Iranian Ambassador Dr Reza Amiri Moghaddam.
The Pakistani leaders conveyed goodwill messages to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian.
Durrani, highlighting his personal connection as a native of Bahawalpur where the victims’ families reside, stated: “the bereaved families demand not just arrests but public identification of those behind this gruesome crime.”
“These workers represented Pakistan’s most vulnerable strata,” Durrani emphasized, regretting that the tragic deaths of the bread-earner have pushed already struggling families into deeper despair.” He pressed for immediate Iranian measures to secure Pakistani labor communities.
The former minister proposed concrete measures to safeguard workers, including establishing a trilateral security framework with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and implementing enhanced intelligence-sharing mechanisms between the neighboring countries.
“Terrorism threatens our shared interests in regional peace, stability and economic connectivity,” Durrani asserted, noting impact of the attacks on cross-border labor mobility.
Barrister Saif reinforced the message, conveying the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s commitment to support Iran’s counter-terrorism efforts while facilitating people-to-people ties.
Iranian Ambassador accepted invitation of visit of KPK extended by Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif.
Ambassador Moghaddam offered condolences, stating: “Iran shares your grief and assures transparent legal proceedings.” He reassured Tehran’s commitment to protecting all foreign workers.
He stated that the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran would hunt down the perpetrators behind this heinous crime, and their identities would be revealed to the public.
He also emphasized the need to increase bilateral trade between the two countries from $3 billion to $10 billion.
