At least 45 people have been killed along with at least 100 injured in an explosion in Shah Noorani’s shrine in Khuzdar, Balochistan, 150 km away from Karachi. The explosion took place inside the shrine at the place the Dhamaal was being performed. Frontier Cops personnel were some of the first to arrive at the scene.
Ambulances have reached the site and started emergency rescue services, despite initial difficulties because of the remote location of the shrine. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also dispatched 50 additional ambulances from Karachi. Law enforcement officials have also reached the site to begin their investigations.
“People who are critically injured in the blast will be transported to Karachi,” said Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti. He added that “Our focus is on rescue services at the moment. We can’t be certain about the exact number of casualties and the nature of the attack that took place today.”
Emergency has been declared in Civil Hospital and JPMC to take in as many of the blast victims as possible. Chaudhry Nisar has also ordered the Interior Ministry to provide Cessna aircraft for transport of the victims to nearby hospitals.
According to police sources, it was a suicide attack carried out by a 14-year-old boy. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Government and opposition leaders, including the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have expressed their grief over the tragedy, and condemned the attack, as well as being hopeful of speedy emergency services and the treatment of the wounded.
Imran Khan also suggested sending helicopters to the site, while Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Tahir Ul Qadri said that the government was responsible for what happened.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed his grief regarding the attack and the resulting carnage, while also directing additional security for the Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai that is to take place on Tuesday, the 15th of November.
The COAS General Raheel Shareef has also dispatched six medical teams and 65 ambulances to the site, as well as 150 soldiers. Frontier Cops personnel were some of the first to arrive at the scene.