Five dead, several injured in Hangu mosque bomb blast during Friday sermon
MASTUNG /Hango -Two terror attack to hit Pakistan in a single day . At least 54 people were killed and more than 60 people suffered multiple injuries following a ‘powerful’ suicide blast in Mastung district of Balochistan on Friday, the Mastung Deputy Commissioner told media.
The dead and the injured were initially shifted to the DHQ Hospital and other infirmaries. The incident took place at a bazaar near Madina Masjid on Al Falah Road. Rescue 1122 ambulances, police and Bomb Disposal Squad officials are at the crime scene.
A state of emergency has been declared in all hospitals. Security forces cordoned off the area soon after the incident.
DSP Nawaz Gashkori was among the dead. According to a spokesman of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan, a suicide bomber blew himself in a gathering of people.
Among the dead are seven children aging between 9 and 13.
Mastung DC Abdur Razzaq said majority of the injured were shifted to Quetta. Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Atta-ul-Munim said that the explosion took place when people were gathering for an Eid Miladun Nabi procession near Madina Masjid on Alfalah Road.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) denied it had carried out the attack.
Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in the same district.
Interim Sindh Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar condemned the blast, according to a statement from his spokesperson.
In a statement, the chief ministersaid that those involved in taking the lives of innocent people are the “enemies of humanity”.
PTI leader and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail strongly condemned the blast, saying that those who “end innocent lives are oppressors and terrorists”. He hoped that law enforcement agencies would soon catch the culprits.
“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmed told Reuters, adding that blast took place near a mosque where people were gathering for a procession to mark Prophet Mohammad (SAW)’s birthday, which is a public holiday.
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti called the blast was a “very heinous act”.
President, PM strongly condemn Mastung blast
President Dr Arif Alvi and Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday strongly condemned the blast that took place in Mastung, near the Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH) procession. Expressing their deep grief over the loss of precious lives, they sympathised with the victims’ families.
The president and prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty for peace of the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families to bear the loss with fortitude. Praying for the early recovery of the injured, they directed the authorities concerned to provide the best possible medical facilities to them.
PM Kakar reiterated that the government was fully resolved to eliminate terrorism from the country.
‘Three-day mourning announced’
Balochistan caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki has announced three-day mourning across the province following the tragedy while Achakzai said the national flag will fly at half-mast on government buildings during the mourning period.
While,
A blast ripped through a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu, local officials confirmed Friday, leaving three dead — including a policeman — and 12 injured.
The incident took place within the parametres of Police Station Doaba during the Friday sermon — a time when scores of believers are gathered at a mosque for their weekly prayer.
Hangu District Police Officer Nisar Ahmed said 30-40 people were under the rubble — as the mosque’s roof caved in — and an operation was underway to rescue them.
Ahmed said two suicide bombers were involved in the attack — one targeted the gate of the police station, and the other blew himself up inside the mosque.
The 12 people, rescued from the rubble, have been shifted to a nearby hospital, he said.
Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Azam Khan, taking notice, directed officials to enforce an emergency in all hospitals of the city as he sought a report on the blast from law enforcers.
The police officials said that two militants tried entering the police station and started firing at the gate. They added that one of the terrorists was killed at the gate by the police in retaliatory fire.
Moreover, two policemen were also injured during the firing, officials of the law enforcement agency said, adding that the other militant blew himself up inside the mosque.
The timely action by the police resulted in fewer casualties following the blast, they added.
The explosion took place near the mosque where people were gathering to mark Eid Miladun Nabi — the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
For the past year now, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly being under the radar of militants targeting security forces and civilians to deteriorate peace.
Security forces, however, continue to conduct operations against terrorists to eliminate terrorism from the country in its resolve to strengthen the sacrifices of its soldiers.
Earlier this month, a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) stated a sharp increase recorded in militant attacks across the country in the month of August with 99 terror incidents reported.
This, according to the report, was the highest number recorded in any single month since November 2014. These attacks have resulted in 112 deaths and 87 injuries, mostly targeting security forces personnel and civilians.
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