Tribal chieftan, Nawab Akbar Bugti’s 18th assassination anniversary on Aug 26, 2024 was marked by an uptick in violence in Balochistan.The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), began targeting Punjabis, whom they identify with the “occupying Pakistan army.” Buses traveling in Musakhel, on the border of Balochistan and Punjab, were stopped and two dozen passengers with Punjab ID cards were shot dead. Thereafter, the chase by law enforcement led to the killings of BLA operators and law enforcement. In total, over 70 people were killed, marking one of the deadliest anniversaries of Bugti – who was killed in 2006 on the orders of military chief, Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf.