QUETTA – At least 13 people, including six police officials, were reportedly killed and 14 others injured after a car bomb went off near office of Inspector General of Police at Shuhda Chowk in Quetta on Friday, local media reported.
The blast occurred around 8:45 am in an area which is considered a high alert zone due to the offices of high police officials. After the attack, law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area.
According to DIG Quetta Abdul Razaq Cheema, bomb was planted in a car, which went off when police officials tried to intercept it near the chowk. He added that further information will be shared after thorough investigation.
The vehicle was reportedly being driven by a suicide attacker who reportedly wanted to target the provincial police chief’s office. When police officials tried to intercept the vehicle, it went off.
Rescue teams shifted the injured to hospital for medical treatment. Around 14 people including a ten-year-old girl and 9 police officials have been shifted to Civil Hospital of which eight are in critical condition. An emergency has been declared in the hospital.
Eyewitness said that the blast was so powerful that it could be heard at a distance and shattered glass windows of nearby buildings. Two vehicles were badly damaged in the incident.
Jummat-ul-Wida
Today, Pakistan is observing Jummat-ul-Wida of Ramazan and the security departments have taken extra measure in the capital city of Balochistan, which have been targeted by terrorist many times in the past, in order to overcome such incidents.
Provincial Government’s View
Talking to a news channel, Balochistan government spokesperson Anwarul Haq Kakar said that it appeared that police officials have been targeted in the attack.
There were reports of such attack and security was on alert in this regard, he said, adding that enemies carried out attacks where they got a chance.
Interior Minister
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has summoned a report regarding the blast. He also condoled with families of the deceased.
IS network in Balochistan
On June 8, ISPR issued a press released stating that security forces in a successful operation in Mastung destroyed network lined to ISIS, a terror group.
The forces conducted an operation in Mastung from 1-3 June after getting information that 10-15 terrorists of a banned outfit Lashrake-Jhangivi Al-Almi (LeJA) were hiding in caves near Isplingi ( Koh-i-Siah/Koh-i- Maran) 36 kilometer south-east of Mastung.
The organization was reportedly making efforts for communication with ISIS (Daesh) and intended to facilitate establishment of ISIS foothold in Balochistan.
The security forces destroyed IED-making facility inside the cave and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition which included 50 kilograms of explosive, 3 suicide bomber jackets, 18 Grenades, 6 Rocket Launchers, 4 Light Machine Guns,18 small machine guns, 4 sniper rifles, 38 communication sets and huge ammunition of various types.
