CHAMAN: At least six people killed and more than 14 injured when a bomb exploded in a pro-Palestinian rally Chaman city of Balochistan on Friday, officials said.
Bomb ripped through a JUI-Nazriati rally taken out in Chaman to express solidarity with Palestinians on Friday. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Nazriati) staged the rally at Boghra Chowk in the Murghi Market of the city as part of the Youm-i-Quds being observed in support of the Palestinian people facing Israeli aggression.
DPO Jaffar Khan confirmed that six people were killed and another 12 injured in the bomb explosion.
The bomb exploded with a bang as the participants started leaving after the rally came to an end. The blast reportedly took place near JUI-Nazriyati senior vice president Maulana Abdul Qadir’s car.
The JUI leader was injured and later taken to a nearby hospital. However, he has been discharged and sent home, said police.
A senior local police official said explosives were packed into a motorbike parked near the vehicle of a religious leader taking part in the rally.
Pictures from the scene showed broken glass, rubble, and bloodstains. “It was an improvised explosive device which went off as participants began to disperse,” added Tariq Mengal, a senior local administration official. No group has claimed responsibility.
Thousands of people rallied across Pakistan on Friday in support of Palestinians, hours after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas which governs the Gaza Strip. The rallies followed Friday prayers which usually draw huge crowds to mosques.
Demonstrators could be seen waving signs that said “Free Palestine”, while a major road connecting the capital Islamabad to the neighbouring city Rawalpindi was blocked.
Friday’s Chaman blast comes just weeks after a suicide bombing in Quetta at a luxury hotel where the Chinese ambassador was being hosted.
JUI-N Central Secretary Maulana Qari Meharullah accused the district administration of not taking any steps to guard the rally. He claimed that the blast occurred while the rally in progress.
Paramedics arrived at the site of the blast and shifted the bodies and injured to district hospital where an emergency has been imposed,” said police.
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