18 Shia pilgrims gunned down in Pakistan

Islamabad, July 6 (IANS) At least 18 people were killed Friday night when unidentified motorcycle-borne gunmen rained bullets at a bus carrying Shia pilgrims in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, media reports said.

The attack took place near Turbet while the bus was on its way from Balochistan capital Quetta to Iran, Xinhua reported citing Urdu TV channel Dunya.

Geo News said the gunmen attacked a convoy of passenger vans that had begun their journey from Karachi.

It said the attack took place in Khadan area of Turbat.

Witnesses said the gunmen who were waiting near the road, opened fire at the vehicles and kept shooting until their automatic weapons were depleted of ammunition. They then fled the scene.