Bus passengers gunned down in Pakistan sectarian attack

The victims were said to be Shiite Muslims, a minority in Pakistan that is frequently targeted by extremists from the majority Sunni community. The gunmen spared several dozen other people in the four-bus convoy.

A spokesman for the Jandullah faction of the Pakistani Taliban, a Sunni militant group, claimed responsibility for the killings.

The incident in the remote Kohistan region was the latest in a spasm of violence in the country in recent weeks that has demonstrated the resilience of militant networks.

The attack took place in the mountainous village of Harban Nala, which is 211 miles north of the capital, Islamabad.

Police officer Mohammad Azhar said the buses were travelling from Rawalpindi city to Gilgit when the gunmen attacked. Mr Sattar said eight gunmen were involved. They ordered passengers to produce their identity cards before selecting their victims.