At least 52 killed, scores injured in suicide blast near Mastung Mosque in Balochistan

At least 52 people lost their lives and several got injured in a massive “suicide attack” in Balochistan’s Mastung area, police said on Friday.

Initial reports suggest that the blast rocked the vicinity near the revered Medina Masjid during the main procession of Eid Miladun Nabi.

The injured are being sent to a medical facility as an emergency has been declared in the hospitals, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Javed Lehri.

Some injured are also being shifted to Quetta hospitals.

Mastung Assistant Commissioner Atta Ul Munim said that the explosion, which appears to be “massive” in scope, happened close to Madina Mosque. He stated that subsequently, the populace would be required to march in a procession.

“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmed told Reuters, adding that blast took place near a mosque where people were gathering for a Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) procession.

Nawaz Gashkori, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) for Mastung, is reportedly one of them who passed away.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far, which comes amid a surge in attacks claimed by militant groups in the west of the country, raising the stakes for security forces ahead of national elections scheduled for January next year.

Caretaker Interior Minister Senator Sarfraz Bugti in a statement condemned the “heinous attack” in Mastung.

Strongly condemn the heinous attack in Mastung. Attacking innocent people during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession is a terrible act. We’ll use all resources for rescue and relief operations, ensuring best medical care for the injured. We’re committed to a zero-tolerance policy…

— Senator Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) September 29, 2023

Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai also condemned the attack, saying all LEAs, PDMA force and ambulances had reached the scene.

All LEAs, PDMA force and ambulances are on the scene. Injured victims have reached 40.

Martyrs numbers are rising unfortunately.

Emergency imposed in Quetta Hospitals.

Appeals out for blood donations. Plz pray for the martyrs and injured #Mastungblast

— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) September 29, 2023

“Martyrs numbers are rising unfortunately. Emergency imposed in Quetta Hospitals,” he wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in the same district.

A Levies official had been shot dead at a bus stop a week earlier by unidentified guys, and two other people who were passing by had also been hurt.

Three persons were killed and six others were hurt in a bombing that targeted two vehicles in the mountainous region of Qabu in Mastung in October of last year.