ZHOB: At least six persons were injured and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq survived unscathed a “suicide attack”, targeting his convoy in Zhob area of Balochistan on Friday, the police confirmed.
Zhob City Police Station House Officer (SHO) Sher Ali Mandokhail informed the media that the JI chief’s remained unhurt in the attack while his vehicle was partly damaged.
He said all of the injured were being treated at Civil Hospital Zhob and one of them was in critical condition.
امیر جماعت محترم سراج الحق کے قافلے پر بلوچستان میں خود کش حملہ
اللہ تعالیٰ زخمیوں کو صحت دے۔ سراج الحق صاحب اور تمام شرکاء کو سلامت رکھے اور حکومت و سکیورٹی اداروں کو اپنے فرائض کی انجام دہی کی توفیق دے۔#سراج_الحق_سلامت_رہو pic.twitter.com/8pZpNr1KqO— Mian Aslam (@MianAslam_) May 19, 2023
The official added that a body found at the site of the blast was of the “suicide attacker”.
In a tweet, the party said that Sirajul Haq was safe and that the attacker had been killed. “Sirajul Haq was present in the area to address a gathering,” the party said.
امیر جماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے پر ژوب بلوچستان میں خود کش حملہ، حملہ آور مارا گیا۔
الحمدللہ سراج الحق محفوظ ہیں۔ جلسہ عام سے خطاب کے لیے ژوب میں موجود تھے— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) May 19, 2023
“JI Ameer Siraj reached Quetta today and had to go further to Zhob where he has a political gathering today. When he was entering Zhob and people were welcoming him, a person came and blew himself up,” party spokesperson Qaisar Sharif said in a video message.
JI spokesperson Qaiser Sharif said a few vehicles had also been damaged in the attack.
He said that the party chief had reached Quetta earlier today to address a rally in Zhob, adding that a large number of people had gathered to welcome Haq as he entered Zhob. “The suicide attacker was also part of the crowd,’ he added.
الحمد للہ محترم امیر جماعت بخیریت ہیں۔ تمام کارکن پُرامن اور حوصلہ میں رہیں اور اقامت دین کی جدوجہد کو مذید تیز کر دیں۔
محمد اصغر
ڈپٹی سیکرٹری جنرل
جماعت اسلامی پاکستان— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) May 19, 2023
According to SHO Mandokhail, Haq insisted on going to the venue of his political gathering after the blast. “He was given a clearance after additional police and law enforcement personal were deployed.”
The official said security of the JI’s chief had been assigned to Zhob Assistant Commissioner Hafiz Tariq.
Upon getting information, a contingent of security forces also reached the area and cordoned it off to collect evidence.
PM strongly condemns suicide attack on Sirajul Haq’s convoy
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned the suicide attack on the convoy of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Sirajul Haq and directed the Balochistan government to investigate the incident from every angle.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident, the prime minister prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and grant of patience to the bereaved families to bear the loss with courage.
ژوب میں امیر جماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے پر خودکش حملے کی شدید مذمت کرتا ہوں۔ قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پردل رنجیدہ ہے۔ میں نے بلوچستان حکومت کو ہدایت کی ہے کہ وہ حملے کی تمام زاویوں سے تحقیقات کرے اور اس خوفناک حملے میں ملوث کرداروں کو انصاف کے کٹہرے میں لایا جائے۔ اللّہ پاک…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 19, 2023
PM Shehbaz ordered a thorough probe into the incident and directed the relevant authorities to bring all the culprits to justice.
He also directed to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed grief over the suicide blast.
“We are grateful to Allah who protected the emir of JI and his colleagues,” he said. “It is deeply regretted that five people were injured in the incident.”
He said terrorists wanted to achieve their evil goals by spreading fear and insecurity in the province, adding that militants and their patrons will not be allowed to succeed.
National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani also condemned the incident, expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives.
سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری کی امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے کے قریب خود کش حملہ کی مذمت
امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے کے قریب خودکش حملے کے منصوبہ سازوں کو گرفتار کیا جائے، آصف علی زرداری
آصف علی زرداری کا امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے لیئے نیک خواہشات کا اظہار
آصف…
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 19, 2023
They prayed for the victims and extended their condolences to the bereaved, according to a statement on the NA’s Twitter.
In his condemnation, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari called for the arrest of the planners of the attack.
سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری کی امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے کے قریب خود کش حملہ کی مذمت
امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے قافلے کے قریب خودکش حملے کے منصوبہ سازوں کو گرفتار کیا جائے، آصف علی زرداری
آصف علی زرداری کا امیرجماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کے لیئے نیک خواہشات کا اظہار
آصف…
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 19, 2023
He extended his wishes to Haq and prayed for the fast recovery of the injured, a statement on the PPP’s Twitter said.
