QUETTA – At least 27 people have been killed and many others injured including Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in an explosion in Balochistan’s Mastung area near a mosque on Friday shortly after jummah prayers.
According to reports, the deputy chairman Senate was returning from an event at Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen at Jama Masjid Hammadia when his vehicle was targeted.
The majority of those injured and killed were party workers of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), rescue sources told Dawn.
An eyewitness present at the event said the guests were leaving for a luncheon when Haideri’s convoy came under attack.
The eyewitness, according to the Dawn News, said that there was an explosion, followed by sustained firing. “After the air cleared, we saw bodies everywhere.”
The blast was very powerful, said Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, adding that though he was not seriously hurt, he was deeply saddened by the deaths of his colleagues, Geo News reported.
According to media reports, bodies were still lying and security forces were trying to ascertain whether the attack was a suicide bombing.
The area has been cordoned off by security forces and investigations are underway.
An emergency has been declared at Civil Hospital Mastung and more doctors have been called in, hospital sources said.
This is a developing story…
