At least 52 killed, scores injured in ‘suicide blast’ in Pakistan

At least 52 people were killed — including a police officer — and more than 50 were injured in what officials believe was a suicide blast near a mosque in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday.

District Health Officer (DHO) Abdul Razzaq Shahi confirmed the casualties to Dawn.com while City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri said a police official was among the dead.

However, Dr Saeed Mirwani, chief executive of Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital had earlier told Dawn.com that 34 people were dead while more than 130 were injured.

Shahi clarified that the higher number was because of double entries from two hospitals and that the number of the injured was 50.

CEO Dr Mirwani confirmed that 28 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far, while 22 were taken to the Mastung district hospital.

He said dozens were being treated at the hospital while more than 20 injured people have been referred to Quetta for medical assistance. “The process of moving bodies and injured persons continues even now,” the hospital CEO said.

Earlier, Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Attahul Munim said 15 people were killed due to the explosion while more than 50 were injured.

He added that the explosion took place when people were gathering for an Eid-i-Miladun Nabi procession near Madina Masjid at Alfalah Road.

The Mastung AC stated that the blast took place in the car of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Gishkori who was to remain on the sidelines of the procession.

SHO Lehri said the explosion was a “suicide blast”.

Unverified images and videos emerging in the aftermath of the blast showed a number of bloodied corpses and what looked like severed limbs strewn about as onlookers assessed the damage.

Balochistan interim Information Minister Jan Achakzai said rescue teams have been dispatched to Mastung. He added the critically injured persons are being transferred to Quetta and that an emergency has been imposed in all the hospitals.

“The enemy wants to destroy religious tolerance and peace in Balochistan with foreign blessings,” Achakzai said. “The explosion is unbearable.”

He further said caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki has directed authorities to arrest those responsible for the blast.

Soon after the explosion, the Punjab police also said that its “diligent officials” were performing security duties for Friday prayers at mosques across the province. (DAWN)