Fatalities from Quetta blast climb to 15 amid threat of ‘more suicide bombers’

#Fatalities #Quetta #blast #climb #threat #suicide #bombers

QUETTA: The Quetta blast targeting Balochistan National Party (BNP) has reached 15, Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Mohammad Kakar said on Wednesday that the government has warned more about the potential suicide bombers entering the province.

Referring to the injured, Kakar said that of the 38 injured in the blast, eight are currently being treated at the center of trauma, and an investigative committee has been constituted to investigate the incident.

The minister said, “The suicide bomber could not reach the rally due to severe security arrangements.”

A day earlier, an explosion began in a busy area near Shahwani Stadium in Quetta in the evening, leaving several injured in critical condition.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed the authorities to shift the injured to Karachi.

Expressing grief and solidarity with the bereaved families, President Zardari directed the concerned agencies to launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.

The President also prayed for the rapid recovery of the injured and directed the concerned officials to provide them with the best possible medical treatment.

Prime Minister Shahbaz, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, also condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives.

The Prime Minister called the attack on the political rally “harmful evidence of a terrorist conspiracy to spread chaos in Balochistan”. He emphasized that “terrorists in Balochistan are enemies of peace and development”.

The Prime Minister stressed, “We will continue the war on terror until the complete elimination of this threat,” he said, adding that attacks on innocent and unarmed civilians are “cowardly and condemnable”.

A spokesman for the Anti -Terrorism Department (CTD) said that a case has been registered against unknown persons in connection with a separate, murder, murder attempt and a suicide attack containing anti -terrorism provisions.

The spokesman added, “The remains of the suicide bomber have been taken into custody and will be sent for forensic analysis.”

The latest terrorist incident has come, especially against the backdrop of the growing attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

According to a report released by a think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICS) based in Islamabad, the country observed 78 terrorist attacks during June, resulting in at least 100 deaths. The deaths included 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of the local peace committees.

A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 members of security forces and 63 civilians. Overall, violence and operations resulted in 175 deaths in June – 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two members of the Peace Committee.

’22 Threat by individuals’

Giving a briefing to the media today, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqat said that eight kilograms of explosives were used in the suicide attack.

“The rally was not allowed but there was pressure [to do so] From the organizers, “he said.

Noting that the suicide bomber could not be identified but he was under 30 years of age, Shafqat said the government had provided security for the BNP rally, which had 120 policemen deployed, and the loss would have been huge – which took place 45 minutes after the rally ended.

“The organizers of the rally were told three times to end the rally,” the official said, highlighting that the rally allocated was 3 pm and the explosion took place at 9am.

“There are some details that we cannot distribute at the moment, because it will be premature [to do so].

“The security risk issued by the administration should be taken seriously,” he added. If the organizers had taken it seriously, it would not have happened. “

Aware of the threats of further security to the media, the official said there was a threat from 22 people entering Balochistan.

“The suicide bombers can also be among those who enter Balochistan,” he said.

‘Out of our control’

Considering the Sarib Road blast, Shafqat termed the incident as unfortunate and emphasized that nothing could be done to prevent it – the reason is that it is the nature of a suicide attack.

“Sariab incident was over [our] Control, “he said, giving remarks, while further highlighting that Rabi -ul -Awwal also has a risk alert.

“[The govt] Issued permission for the rally and took responsibility [for the incident]”He said.

Saying that the political party was formally informed about the threat of security, the additional chief secretary said that the government would not allow rallies and gatherings to hold rallies after the syndood now.

On the overall security situation, Shafqat reminded that more than 100 people died during August 2024. However, no citizen died during this year.

Saying that the Assistant Commissioner of TAMP is safe, he said efforts are underway to recover the Ziarat AC.

– with additional input from the app