Funerals and strike in Balochistan as three-day mourning begins

Published
12

Pakistani police officers and local residents gather on Jan 10, 2013 at the site of a bomb blast that targeted paramilitary soldiers in a commercial area in Quetta, Pakistan. A series of bombings in different parts of Pakistan killed 115 people on Thursday in one of the deadliest days in the country in recent years. — Photo by AP/File
Pakistani police officers and local residents gather on Jan 10, 2013 at the site of a bomb blast that targeted paramilitary soldiers in a commercial area in Quetta, Pakistan. A series of bombings in different parts of Pakistan killed 115 people on Thursday in one of the deadliest days in the country in recent years. — Photo by AP/File

QUETTA: On a day of bereavement and grief, Chief Minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani announced a three-day mourning period in the province on Friday, following the huge loss of life and devastation caused by three blasts.

In addition, a strike was also being observed in Quetta against the deadly car and bomb blasts, which claimed at least 102 lives.

Many political and religious parties said they would hold protests against the deadly blasts, while all commercial and business centres remained closed early Friday.

Eight platoons of the Frontier Corps were also deployed at various locations in the city to maintain law and order.

Many of the victims’ funerals would be held at different graveyards across the city, it was reported.

A cameraman from Samaa television, who was killed in Thursday’s blast, was buried in the Railway graveyard. His funeral was attended by a large number of people.

Prayers for the health of those injured in the blasts also continued in different parts of the city.

Other cities and towns of Balochistan are also participating in the mourning for the large number of lives lost in yesterday’s blasts. Journalists in Balochistan’s Hub area have announced a protest after Friday prayers.

Opinion

Editorial

Equal citizens
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Equal citizens

Religious minorities continue to face mob violence, attacks on their places of worship, forced conversions and social and economic exclusion.
Tel Aviv’s subterfuge
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Tel Aviv’s subterfuge

These verbal gymnastics indicate that Tel Aviv has no intention of ending its occupation of the Strip.
Abandoned after floods
11 Aug, 2026

Abandoned after floods

THREE years after the 2022 floods submerged a third of Pakistan, more than 134,000 verified affected families in...
Genuine governance
Updated 10 Aug, 2026

Genuine governance

ON the surface, the Punjab cabinet’s decision to allocate funds for local government elections is a welcome step...
Failed by the state
10 Aug, 2026

Failed by the state

THE 1,914 cases of child abuse across Pakistan in the first six months of 2026 should spark outrage. The figure ...
HIV crisis
10 Aug, 2026

HIV crisis

PAKISTAN’s presence among countries with the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia is a matter of shame. Globally,...