MASTUNG, Pakistan: The death toll in the Mastung blast swelled to 53 as more injured succumbed to their injuries, according to the reports.
A police officer was among the deceased while dozens were injured in what officials believe was a suicide blast near a Rabiul Awwal procession in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday morning.
District Health Officer (DHO) Abdul Rasheed Shahi confirmed the casualties while City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri also confirmed a police official was among the dead. Earlier, there were reports that 34 people were dead while more than 130 injured.
Hospital sources confirmed that 28 bodies were brought to the medical facilities so far, while dozens injured were also taken to the Mastung district hospital.
Unverified images and videos emerging in the aftermath of the incident showed several bloodied corpses and what looked like severed limbs strewn about as onlookers assessed the damage.
According to the police high ups, the bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), causing his immediate death.
President, PM Condemn Deadly Attack
Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi has strongly denounced the deadly attack and expressed his deep grief over the loss of precious lives.
He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to blast victims.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also condemned the attack on the Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH) procession. Prime Minister Kakar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کی مستونگ ، بلوچستان میں عید میلاد النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کے موقع پر دھماکے کی شديد مذمت
صدر مملکت کا دھماکے میں قیمتی جانی نقصان پر گہرے دکھ کا اظہار
صدر مملکت کا جاں بحق افراد کے اہل خانہ کے ساتھ اظہارِ افسوس pic.twitter.com/a2UcOl3EV6
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 29, 2023
نگران وزیر اعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی مستونگ میں دھماکے کی شديد مذمت۔
وزیر اعظم کا دھماکے میں جانی نقصان پر گہرے دکھ و رنج کا اظہار، جاں بحق افراد کیلئے دعائے مغفرت اور اہل خانہ کیلئے صبر کی دعا۔ pic.twitter.com/pF83RwCSCw
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 29, 2023
OIC Condemns Terrors Blasts in Pakistan
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
The OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed his strong condemnation of these heinous acts and offered his deepest condolences to the government and people of Pakistan.
OIC General Secretariat Strongly Condemns Terrorist Blasts in Pakistan: https://t.co/GGFy8MQ5jq pic.twitter.com/C3Jlyu98p4
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) September 29, 2023
UAE Condemns Terrors Blasts in Pakistan
The UAE has also condemned the two terrorist bombings in Pakistan. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) condemned the criminal acts and rejected all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contrary to human values and principles.
The Ministry also conveyed sincere condolences and sympathy to the government of Pakistan and its people, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as wishing a speedy recovery for all the wounded.
#UAE condemns terrorist bombings In #Balochistan and #Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan https://t.co/A327fr5xy3
— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) September 29, 2023
Balochistan interim Information Minister Jan Achakzai said rescue teams had been sent to Mastung. He further said that critically injured persons were being transferred to Quetta and that an emergency had been declared in all the city hospitals.
Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti has strongly condemned the incident and expressed his grief at the loss of lives.
نگران وفاقی وزیر داخلہ سرفراز احمد بگٹی کی ہنگو اور بلوچستان میں دہشت گرد حملوں کی مذمت، حملوں میں قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار، دہشتگردوں کا قلع قمع کرنے کا عظم۔#Balochistan pic.twitter.com/T4x4Vee2QN
— Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) September 29, 2023
Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki also condemned the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry into the blast.
Rise in terror incidents
Earlier this month, at least 10 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in the same district. A week prior to that, a Levies official was gunned down at a bus stand by unidentified men.
Heartbroken to hear about the deadly bomb blast targeting an Eid Milad-un-Nabi gathering in Mastung. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,We must stand united against terror and take strong measures for safety of our people. #Mastungblast pic.twitter.com/KYxFPpyCd7
— Ramen M Hasni (@ramenmhasni) September 29, 2023
In May, some unidentified attackers targeted a polio vaccination team in the Killi Sour Karez area on the outskirts of Mastung, resulting in the death of a policeman.
In July 2018, at least 128 people, including politician Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, were killed and more than 200 were injured in a deadly suicide blast in the same district.
The story will be updated further as the situation evolves.
