MASTUNG: More than 52 people including a senior Police Officer were killed and over 50 people suffered multiple injuries following a ‘powerful’ blast in Mastung district of Balochistan, Police sources said.
The injured are being shifted to the DHQ Hospital. The incident took place at a bazaar near Madina Masjid on Al Falah Road. Rescue 1122 ambulances, police and Bomb Disposal Squad officials are at the crime scene.
A state of emergency has been declared in all hospitals. Security forces cordoned off the area soon after the incident.
DSP of Balochstan Police Nawaz Gashkori was among the deadm said a spokesman of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan, adding that a suicide bomber blew himself in a gathering of people.
Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in the same district.
Interim Sindh Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar condemned the blast, according to a statement from his spokesperson.
In a statement, the chief minister said that those involved in taking the lives of innocent people are the “enemies of humanity”.
PTI leader and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail strongly condemned the blast, saying that those who “end innocent lives are oppressors and terrorists”. He hoped that law enforcement agencies would soon catch the culprits.
“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police,” said the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Munir Ahmed while talking to media person, He was of the view that blast took place near a mosque where people were gathering for a procession to mark Prophet Mohammad (SAW)’s birthday, which is a public holiday.
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti called the blast was a “very heinous act”.
Balochistan caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki has announced three-day mourning across the province following the tragedy while Achakzai said the national flag will fly at half-mast on government buildings during the mourning period.
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