Armed men attacked a local court in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, setting the building ablaze and abducting the presiding judge, officials and witnesses said.
According to local sources, the incident occurred around noon in Maskan Kalat, a small town in Kharan district. Unidentified gunmen stormed the court premises, vandalized offices, and took Judge Muhammad Jan away along with his vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers burned all legal files and records before fleeing the scene. One witness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the assailants also escaped in the personal vehicle of a senior lawyer, Salam Shah.
Sources told local media that more than 10 armed men were involved in the assault.
Following the attack, police and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and began an investigation. The district administration confirmed the attack, adding that security forces were actively pursuing the suspects.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assault, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long faced violence linked to separatist insurgents and armed criminal groups targeting state institutions. However, attacks on judicial facilities are rare.
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