Gunmen have shot dead seven Shi'ite Muslims in two separate incidents in Pakistan's troubled southwestern province of Baluchistan.

Police say that in the first incident, four gunmen riding two motorbikes intercepted a bus near Hazarganji area, pulled five Shi'ite vegetable sellers off the vehicle, and shot them dead. In the second incident, two motorbike riders sprayed bullets at two Shi'a on the outskirts of Quetta, killing both of them. Balochistan has seen a notable increase in violence, mainly the targeted killings of Shi'a and officials.