Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Quetta on Sunday and attended Namaz-e-Janaza of soldiers, who embraced Shahadat in a blast on Saturday night.
Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Southern Command Commander Lt-Gen Aamir Riaz and other civil and military officials also attended the Namaz-e-Janaza.
The COAS also visited the injured of Quetta blast at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta Cantt. Later, he was briefed about the incident at HQ SC. The COAS reiterated that the fight against terrorism would continue till achievement of enduring peace and stability. He said that there was a need to have synergy between efforts of all state institutions to defeat terrorism in totality.
Pakistani nation shall celebrate Independence Day so as to honour sacrifices of all ‘Shuhada-e-Pakistan’, who have laid their lives for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan, he added.
The FIR of the attack, which took place on Saturday evening at the Pishin bus stop, is yet to be registered. Sources said experts of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency are expected to arrive in Quetta soon for aiding the investigation. The site of the incident remains sealed, with no thoroughfare allowed.
The attack on the military vehicle left eight army officials and seven civilians dead and also injured around 40 people. Condemning the terrorist attack on Saturday, Gen Bajwa termed it an attempt to “mar Independence Day festivity” in the city and declared that “our resolve won’t succumb to any challenge”. The Balochistan Assembly and FC Hostel are situated near the site of the explosion and the area is categorised as ‘sensitive’, security wise.
Following the blast, Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, accompanied by Quetta Corps Commander Lt Gen Aamer Riaz, visited the hospital to inquire into the injured being treated there. Meanwhile, newly-appointed Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif condemned the attack, saying our brave armed forces stand steadfast against the coward enemy.
