CHAMAN: At least six persons were killed and 14 others sustained injuries when a bomb ripped through a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Nazriati) rally taken out in Chaman to express solidarity with Palestinians on Friday, Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said.
The party staged the rally at Boghra Chowk in the Murghi Market of the city as part of the Youm-e-Quds being observed in support of the Palestinian people facing Israeli aggression.
The bomb exploded with a bang as the participants started leaving after the rally came to an end.
The blast reportedly took place near party’s Senior Vice President Maulana Abdul Qadir’s car.
Qadir was injured and later taken to a nearby hospital where he was later discharged and sent home, said police.
JUI leaders Abdul Qadir Luni and Qari Mehrullah were unharmed in the explosion.
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 was in progress.
Shortly after the incident, the authorities sealed the area and imposed an emergency in local hospitals to treat the injured.
DPO Jaffar Khan confirmed that six people were killed and another 12 injured in the bomb explosion.
“Paramedics arrived at the site of the blast and shifted the bodies and injured to the district hospital where an emergency has been imposed,” said police.
Shahwani strongly condemned the attack and said terrorists wanted to destroy Balochistan’s peace. “The enemies of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians are on the side of Israeli aggression,” he added.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani also condemned the attack and regretted the loss of lives. “Terrorist elements do not deserve any leniency. No one will be allowed to disturb the law and order of the province,” he said.
He expressed condolences with the families of those killed and directed authorities to provide the best available medical facilities to the injured.
The attack came a month after a powerful bomb exploded in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel in Quetta, killing at least five people and wounding 12 others.
There has been a surge in violence in Balochistan, with several incidents of terrorism being reported last year.
On April 13, at least 12 people were injured in an explosion during a football tournament being held at a ground in Allahbad Town located in Balochistan’s industrial town of Hub. The tournament was dedicated to police martyrs.
Khawarij strikes again !