THIS is with reference to the report `Armed man kidnap and kill nine passengers in Balochistan` (July 11 ). The entire nation has been shaken with anguish and horror by the tragic news of nine innocent passengers brutally killed by miscreants while travelling from Quetta to their homes in Punjab. This was neither an act of courage, nor a step forward for any legitimate cause.

It was a shameful and cowardly act outrageous in its cruelty and unforgivable in its intent.

To offload passengers, subject them to identity verification, and then execute them simply because they belong to a certain provinceisnot a struggle orresistance; it is absolute terrorism in its most brazen and despicable form. Such barbarity, targeting defenceless civilians some of them poor labourers earning their livelihood in trying conditions, some rushing home to attend family emergencies is a horrific indictment of those who have long abandoned all morality and humanity.

These bloodthirsty cowards, frustrated by theirfailures, resorted to targeting the most vulnerable. In doing so, they violated every ethicalandreligious code, and openly challenged the writ of the state. They would not escape justice, one can only hope. The blood of the innocent would chase them even in their supposedly safe sanctuaries, and the state is dutybound to ensure that these ruthless murderers are hunted down and made to pay for their crimes.

This is not struggle. This is not militancy. This is madness a self-defeating savagery that would only damage whatever cause these killers claim to represent. Their twisted adventure, drenched in the blood of the poor and the helpless, would not bring them any honour; it would bring shame, disgrace and eventualretribution.

They cut short innocent lives that didnot pose in any possible way an iota of challenge to their sinister designs. The shadows of these victims would follow them until they are brought to justice.

Qamer Soomro Shikarpur