Quetta:
At least five people were killed and 29 others injured in a powerful explosion near a public rally organized Tuesday by the Balutchistan National Party (BNP) in Quetta.
According to information, the explosion occurred near the Shahwani stadium after the BNP-M rally, held to observe the 4th anniversary of the death of Sardar Attaullah.
Balutchistan Minister of Health, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, confirmed victims’ figures. “We have received five bodies and 29 injured so far,” he said.
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According to police officials, the first reports indicate that the explosion has targeted the head of the BNP Akhtar Mengal and his convoy, however, Mengal remained unscathed from the incident.
The law enforcement organizations and the security forces quickly completed the area after the explosion, while the emergency stakeholders transported the injured to the neighboring hospital. The state of several victims would be critical.
Addressing the media, the spokesman for BNP, Sajid Tareen, said that 13 party workers had been martyred during the attack. “As Akhtar Mengal’s vehicle has passed, a strong explosion has occurred,” he said.
Investigators work to determine the nature of the explosion and if it was by an improvised explosive device (IED) or a suicide attack.
The chief minister of Balutchistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, firmly condemned the attack, calling him an “loose act by the enemies of humanity”. He added: “Such acts of terrorism are supposed to destabilize the province and spread fear among innocent citizens.”
Bugti ordered the authorities to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care and called for a high -level investigation into the incident. He also asked the law enforcement organizations to arrest managers at the earliest.
A special investigation committee was trained and responsible for submitting a report as soon as possible. Security was reinforced in and around Quetta as a result of the explosion.
No group has claimed the responsibility of the bombings so far.
