QUETTA: At least five persons, including a policeman, were killed and 29 others injured in a blast outside the City Police Station in the provincial capital on Tuesday.
The dead and injured have been shifted to the Civil Hospital in the provincial capital. An emergency was imposed in the hospital to treat the injured.
Balochistan Inspector General of Police Mohsin Hassan Butt said that police were apparently the target of the blast.
The blast shattered the glass windows of nearby shopping malls and shops. The sound of the explosion was heard far and wide, causing panic among the people.
The City police station is located near Bacha Khan Chowk area of Quetta, one of the busiest neighbourhoods of the city.
On Saturday, a contingent of the Frontier Corps was attacked by unidentified militants during a combing/sensitisation operation between Hushab and Turbat in Balochistan.
The troops martyred in Balochistan included Captain Aqib Javed, Sepoy Nadir, Sepoy Atif Altaf and Sepoy Hafeezullah.
The province – long been plagued by an insurgency and targetted killings – is reeling under a fresh wave of terrorism.
In May alone, the province faced at least five terror attacks, including an attack on non-native labourers working in Dera Murad Jamali.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack on the FC personnel.
He said the armed forces “shall ensure the defence and security of motherland at the cost of our sweat and blood”. He termed the attacks “dying efforts of frustrated inimical forces” as the country heads on to achieve “enduring peace” after attaining “stability”.
“It’s time for the world to facilitate regional peace,” said COAS Bajwa.
The martyrdom of six soldiers on the Pak-Afghan border and of four in Balochistan “is the sacrifice Pakistan [is] making for peace in the region”, tweeted ISPR Director General Major General Asif.
He said while the security of the tribal areas has been improved with efforts now focused on solidifying the western border, inimical forces are attempting to destabilise Balochistan. “Their efforts shall [InshAllah] fail,” Gen Ghafoor said.
