The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that the bodies of nine Pakistani nationals, who were shot dead in Iran last week, would be airlifted today from the Taftan border to Multan.

Nine Pakistani workers were gunned down by unidentified attackers in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan on January 27, as the neighbouring countries sought to ease tensions after deadly cross-border fire.

Iran’s Mehr news agency had reported that “according to witnesses, unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city” in Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan.

It added that no group or individuals had claimed responsibility for the attack. Three Pakistanis were also injured in the indiscriminate fire. The individuals who lost their lives in the incident hailed from Pun­jab, specifically originating from Multan, Muzaff­argarh and Bahawalpur districts.

After the incident, Pakistan had demanded a comprehensive investigation and swift prosecution of those responsible for the brutal attack.

“We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime,” the FO had said and condemned the “horrifying and despicable” attack.

On Sunday, the relatives of the victims had protested in front of the assistant commissioner’s office in Alipur and appealed to the government of Pakistan to ensure the return of the bodies of their loved ones for burial in their native towns.

In a statement on X today, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “The mortal remains of nine Pakistani nationals, who were killed in a terrorist attack in Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran on January 27, are being airlifted today from Taftan border to Multan.

“May Allah grant them the highest abodes in heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones,” she said.