At least 34 people including a police officer were killed and more than 130 were injured in what officials believe was a suicide blast near a mosque in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday, reports Dawn.
Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital chief executive officer Dr Saeed Mirwani confirmed the casualties.
Mirwani confirmed that 28 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far, while six 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,” he 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 by 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.
Critically injured persons are being transferred to Quetta and that an emergency has been imposed in all the hospitals, he added.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
