QUETTA: JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah was shifted to Karachi for advanced treatment on Friday, a day after being injured in a roadside blast along with 10 other people near Balochistan’s Mastung town.

Mr Hamdullah received initial treatment at a Mastung hospital and was later shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta along with other injured people, including party leaders and his security guards.

At least three of the injured were in critical condition.

Mr Hamdullah received injuries on his head and arms, but his condition was stable. However, the party leadership decided to shift him to Karachi for treatment after consulting doctors at the Civil Hospital.

FIR registered against unknown people; strike observed in Quetta

The party sources said doctors recommended that Mr Hamdullah be shifted to Karachi due to a head injury. He was then moved to Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi, by a special plane.

Meanwhile, the Counter-Terror­ism Department has registered an FIR against unidentified people for the bomb attack.

Officials said on Thursday the blast occurred near Mr Hamdullah’s car when he reached the Killi Chotu area, a locality on the outskirts of Mastung, while on his way there from Quetta to address a public meeting. The explosion severely damaged his car.

Meanwhile, a shutter-down strike was observed in and around Quetta city against the Mastung bomb attack.

The strike call was given by JUI-F Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and was supported by the ANPand traders.

All shops, markets, shopping malls and business centres at Jinnah Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Iqbal Road, Prince Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Mission Road and other areas remained closed.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023