QUETTA: A bomb explosion ripped through the busy market close to the Pishin police headquarters, leaving a woman and two children dead and at least 16 others, including two women and seven policemen injured, on Saturday.

An explosives-laden motorcycle was detonated with a remote-control device when traffic policemen gathered there for duty, officials said.

Pishin SSP Manzoor Buledi said, “A girl and a boy were killed on the spot, while 17 others received injuries.”

He said the injured included several policemen, including an officer.

Seven police personnel among 16 injured

Soon after the blast, police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site and after cordoning off the area shifted the bodies and injured to Pishin district hospital.

No organisation claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this report.

Dr Wakeel Serani told Dawn that two bodies and 17 injured were brought to the district hospital and after initial treatment the injured were taken to the trauma centre of civil hospital in Quetta, some 60km from Pishin.

However, one of the injured women died while being shifted to the trauma centre. “We have received the body and 16 injured at the trauma centre,” Dr Wasim Baig, the spokesman for the civil hospital told Dawn. According to doctors, the condition of at least seven injured including two policemen is serious.

It emerged during an initial investigation that an explosive-laden motorbike was used for the blast, Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman, SHO of Pishin police station said. It was detonated with a remote-control device, he said, adding that the miscreants targeted police personnel at Surkhab Chowk, which is close to the Police Lines.

The deceased were identified as two-year-old Fareed, six-year-old Aasiya and 25-year-old Fatima.

The injured were identified as Feroza Bibi, Safara Bibi, Assistant Sub-Inspector Kabir Ahmed, Yar Mohammad, Mohammad Aslam, Allah Dad, Abdul Jabbar, Hafi­zullah, Mohammad Ismail, Rafi­ullah, Ismail, Abdul Nafey, Izzat­ullah, Samiullah, Abdul Ghaffar, Shah Mohammad, and Hazrat Ali.

Later, security forces visited the scene along with the bomb disposal squad and collected evidence. The police reported that the explosion also damaged two vehicles, several motorcycles, and a cart.

Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, vowing to eradicate terrorism from the province. He emphasised that such cowardly acts could not weaken the resolve of the nation. With public support, security forces would completely eradicate the scourge of terrorism, he said. The chief minister expres­sed sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in the explosion and instructed that the best medical facilities be provided to all the injured.

The provincial ministers Saleem Ahmed Khosa and Noor Mohammad Dummar, and Balo­chistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind also expressed sorrow over the incident, stating that anti-social elem­ents did not deserve any leniency as terrorists targeted innocent people.

The health department has been instructed to provide the best possible medical care to those injured in the bomb blast.

President Asif Ali Zardari expres­sed deep sorrow and grief over the incident, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, adds APP. He reaffirmed his resolve to continue the fight against terrorism, directing the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. He prayed for the martyred children and the bereaved families to bear their loss with patience.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the blast, expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of young lives. He sympathised with the bereaved family members and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured police personnel. He directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, ensuring they receive exemplary punishment. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the fight against terrorism until its eradication.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the blast, expressing sorrow over the incident that claimed the lives of two children. He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured police personnel and other individuals. He reiterated the resolve to continue the war against terrorists and their facilitators until their elimination, ensuring a peaceful and secure Pakistan for future generations. He emphasised that the nation and security forces stand united in this fight.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic loss of precious lives. He expressed the hope that the perpetrators of this cowardly act would soon be brought to justice. He said prosperous future of the people of Balochistan was linked to eradicating terrorism from the region.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024