Armed assailants struck a judicial convoy traveling from Quetta to Mastung on Thursday, killing a district and sessions judge and his security guard while wounding another judge. The attack, which occurred at Wali Khan crossing, marks the latest in a series of violent incidents that have heightened security tensions across Balochistan province. Main Developments District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his guard were killed instantly when unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicles near Wali Khan crossing, according to Balochistan Home Department aide Babar Yousafzai. Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari sustained injuries in the same attack and was transported to a hospital in Mastung for treatment. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has ordered an investigation into the incident, with his aide Shahid Rind stating that any negligence found will result in accountability. Rind suggested the attack was specifically aimed at the judiciary, noting that while the Baloch Yakjehti Committee leadership was sentenced in Quetta, the judge was targeted in Mastung. Read also: Why Pakistan's IMF Talks Signal a Shift in Economic Strategy "The terrorists want to give a message that 'if you give verdicts against us, we will target you'," Rind said, while cautioning against "political confusions" and emphasizing the need for a forceful response. He also voiced support for "faceless courts" as a counterterrorism measure. Background Thursday's attack came just one day after three people were killed and five injured in a gun attack on a Karachi-bound passenger bus in Mastung's Khud Kocha area, where a bridge was also blown up. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in that sub-tehsil starting 9pm that night. Earlier this week, security forces killed three terrorists in Mastung and apprehended two suicide bombers and their facilitator, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. Seven additional terrorists were eliminated in the nearby Surab district. These operations are part of a broader security crackdown following a spate of major terrorist attacks earlier this month. Operation Shaban, conducted between July 5 and July 16, resulted in the killing of 91 terrorists, according to security sources cited by state media. The total number of terrorists eliminated in Balochistan since July 5 now stands at 129. Why It Matters The targeted killing of a senior judge represents a direct assault on Pakistan's judicial system, which Rind described as being attacked specifically because of its members' professional role. The attack undermines the rule of law in a province already grappling with separatist and militant violence. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, asserting that "the nefarious aims of anti-state elements active under external patronage will never succeed" and reaffirming the country's commitment to eradicating terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the attack a "cowardly act" that would not weaken the nation's resolve, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. What's Next Authorities are expected to pursue the attackers as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations across Balochistan. The provincial government's investigation into the incident will determine whether any security lapses occurred, with Chief Minister Bugti's office promising accountability if negligence is found. The targeting of judicial officials raises questions about the safety of judges and court personnel in conflict-affected areas, potentially prompting security reviews for the judiciary's travel and court operations in the province.