According to officials, gunmen in southwest Pakistan have taken the lives of at least 22 persons after forcing them from their cars and confirming their identities. 

In the province of Balochistan, where security forces are fighting against separatist, ethnic, and sectarian violence, an attack occurred on a highway during the night. 

Before lighting the cars on fire, the armed men allegedly scrutinized identity cards and singled out Punjabi individuals to be shot, according to officials.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group, has said it was behind the attacks in Musa Khel district.

According to Najibullah Kakar, a senior local official, around 30 to 40 militants were involved.

"They stopped 22 vehicles," he told AFP news agency. "Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot."

The BLA has said it was targeting military personnel travelling in civilian clothes, according to news agency Reuters.

Before the attack, the BLA warned the Baloch public to stay away from the highway, adding that their "fight is against the occupying Pakistani military".

"We have taken full control of all major highways across Balochistan, blocking them completely," it added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed "deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack" in a statement issued by his office.

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province but, although it has more resources than other provinces, it is the least developed.

The BLA and other Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on Punjabis and Sinhdis from elsewhere in Pakistan working in the region. They have also targeted foreign energy firms they accuse of exploiting the region without sharing profits.

In a similar incident in April this year, nine passengers were offloaded from a bus in Balochistan and shot dead after their IDs were checked.

Over past 24 hours, the BLA has launched a series of attacks on multiple government installations - including police stations and security forces’ camps across province.

Several Western countries, including the UK and US, have designated the BLA as a global terrorist organisation.