Observer Report
Quetta
Three policemen were among the eight victims of an explosion that occurred near the Quetta Press Club targeting apparently a religious party’s rally on Shahrah-i-Adalat on Monday, confirmed Quetta Deputy Inspector General Abdul Razzaq Cheema.
The suicide bomber was coming from Sharea Iqbal and when he reached near a security protection provided to the rally the police personnel tried to stop him but he exploded himself hitting the police vehicle.
Two policemen identified as Abdul Rasool, son of Abdul Majeed; Mohammad Zaman, son of Muhammad Hasan, and one Levies personnel M.Hameed, son of Abdul Ghafoor, were among the dead.
The civilians who lost their lives in the explosion included Muhammad Naseem, son of Abdul Haleem, Manzoor Ahmad, son of Abdul Sanoor, Ahmad Ullah, son of Abdullah khan and Hazrat Ali, son of Nasrullah.
According to Cheema, 21 others have also been injured in the incident. He added that so far, the blast “seems to be a suicide attack”. Hospital officials say some of the wounded persons were listed in critical condition.
Several vehicles parked in the vicinity have also been damaged due to the impact of the blast. Security personnel cordoned off the area and started conducting a search operation.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan directed the IGP to submit a report within the next 24 hours. Taking notice of the incident, Prime Minister Imran Khan grieved at the loss of human lives in the blast. The premier also directed the authorities concerned to provide the best medical treatment to the injured. Balochistan Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai also condemned the blast and said: “Such a cowardly attack can’t weaken the morale of the nation and the security forces.”
