<p>Three coal mine workers were killed on Sunday when unidentified armed men opened fire at them near a remote coal mine in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, a government official said.</p>.<p>“Armed men opened fire at three workers near a coal mine in the remote area of Sharag in Harnai district, before escaping into the mountains. The bodies are being shifted to Quetta for identification and other formalities,” a government spokesperson said.</p>.<p>A Balochistan Coal Mines Workers Federation official said the three miners were not from the province.</p>.<p>After the incident, security forces have cordoned off the area, and launched an operation to nab the culprits.</p>.<p>So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.</p>.<p>In January this year, 11 coal miners from the remote Machh coal field were kidnapped and killed, an attack that drew widespread condemnation.</p>.<p>Since that brutal incident, government officials say, thousands of miners, many of them refugees and economic migrants from neighbouring Afghanistan and other parts of Pakistan have fled Balochistan province.</p>.<p>Apart from such deadly attacks, accidents due to gas explosions and wall collapses in coal mines are pretty common affairs.</p>.<p>According to the Balochistan Minerals Department estimates, there are 2,800 coal mines in this province, which employ over 70,000 workers.</p>.<p>On Saturday, Pakistan Human Rights Commission expressed concern over the deplorable working conditions in Balochistan’s coal mines.</p>.<p>A protest rally was organised by residents of Harnai along the highway connecting Quetta demanding better security and rights for coal miners. </p>
<p>Three coal mine workers were killed on Sunday when unidentified armed men opened fire at them near a remote coal mine in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, a government official said.</p>.<p>“Armed men opened fire at three workers near a coal mine in the remote area of Sharag in Harnai district, before escaping into the mountains. The bodies are being shifted to Quetta for identification and other formalities,” a government spokesperson said.</p>.<p>A Balochistan Coal Mines Workers Federation official said the three miners were not from the province.</p>.<p>After the incident, security forces have cordoned off the area, and launched an operation to nab the culprits.</p>.<p>So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.</p>.<p>In January this year, 11 coal miners from the remote Machh coal field were kidnapped and killed, an attack that drew widespread condemnation.</p>.<p>Since that brutal incident, government officials say, thousands of miners, many of them refugees and economic migrants from neighbouring Afghanistan and other parts of Pakistan have fled Balochistan province.</p>.<p>Apart from such deadly attacks, accidents due to gas explosions and wall collapses in coal mines are pretty common affairs.</p>.<p>According to the Balochistan Minerals Department estimates, there are 2,800 coal mines in this province, which employ over 70,000 workers.</p>.<p>On Saturday, Pakistan Human Rights Commission expressed concern over the deplorable working conditions in Balochistan’s coal mines.</p>.<p>A protest rally was organised by residents of Harnai along the highway connecting Quetta demanding better security and rights for coal miners. </p>