Karachi Football Team Robbed at Gunpoint on Balochistan Highway
On Monday evening, September 28, 2026, the Karachi District West football team suffered a harrowing robbery on the Balochistan highway. En route to Quetta for the Chief Minister's Gold Cup, around a dozen armed men intercepted their bus, stealing phones, cash, and other valuables from players and officials; some were assaulted.
A football team from Karachi experienced a terrifying robbery on Monday evening, September 28, 2026, when their bus was intercepted by armed assailants on a Balochistan highway. The Karachi District West team was travelling to Quetta to compete in the prestigious Chief Minister's Gold Cup tournament when the incident occurred between Mastung and Sariab. UEFA Nations League 2026-27: Ireland Refuse Handshakes With Israel, Cruise to 3-0 Victory.
According to report of Geo News, around a dozen armed men, some identified as insurgents, stopped the team's bus. They ordered all passengers to disembark at gunpoint and proceeded to strip them of their mobile phones, cash, and other personal belongings. Team manager Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto recounted the ordeal, stating, "The armed men asked all the passengers to disembark from the bus and then took away all mobile phones, cash, and other valuables. They also butted some of the passengers." Passengers were reportedly held for approximately an hour during the traumatic event.
Official Warnings Ignored
Compounding the distress, the team had embarked on their journey despite explicit warnings regarding the volatile security situation in Balochistan. Muhammad Azam, secretary of the Sindh Football Association, an affiliated unit of the Pakistan Football Federation, confirmed that the association had advised against road travel to Quetta due to security concerns. Azam stated, "We didn't send the Sindh team and we advised all other clubs in Karachi to avoid going to Quetta by bus or train because of the security situation. The Karachi west team still went ahead and what we feared happened."
Other regional football associations, including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had heeded these warnings and opted not to send their teams to the tournament. This incident underscores the persistent security challenges faced by travellers on highways connecting Mastung district to Quetta, which has become a known hotspot for armed groups targeting individuals and vehicles. Aedan Scipio’s Hair Sparks Double Red Card Controversy in CONCACAF Nations League Match.
Aftermath and Assistance
Upon finally reaching Quetta, the shaken team promptly reported the robbery to the Balochistan sports minister. The minister swiftly intervened to provide immediate financial assistance, arranging daily allowances for the players who had been left without any money after losing all their valuables. This timely support aimed to mitigate the immediate impact of the robbery and ensure the team could manage their expenses while in Quetta.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of sports teams travelling for competitions in regions marked by security instability. Authorities are under pressure to enhance security measures on these vital routes to prevent similar occurrences and ensure the safety of athletes and citizens alike.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2026 03:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
