Deadly blast in Quetta’s Kandhari bazar killed four, 15 injured

Quetta_An explosion ripped through the police mobile parked in Kandahari market at Shahrah-i-Iqbal in provincial capital Quetta, killing four including a cop and injuring 15 people as many nearby vehicles caught ablaze.

According to preliminary reports eight people are injured and shifted to Civil Hospital.

Police’s statement, the explosion occurred at Shahrah-e-Iqbal and it claimed four lives – two policemen among them. It also damaged vehicles and motorbikes close to the van. The deceased were shifted to hospital, said police. SSP Operations Captain (retd) Zohaib Mohsin, the police van was the target. “The explosives, weighing up to four kilos, were planted in a motorcycle”, he added.

Two injured were in critical condition, the SSP said. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident. The market was crowded as Eid shopping has gained momentum across the country including Quetta markets. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area while rescue ambulances also reached the spot. The injured including women and children.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast in Balochistan’s capital city with prayers for the martyrs and offered condolences to their families.

The premier has also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the explosion directing relevant authorities to ensure all possible medical aid for them.

He also sought a report from the authorities concerned on the terror attack sharing the state’s resolve to crush the ill intentions of terrorists.

For the past few months, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks with even the country’s bigger urban centres such as Karachi and Peshawar under the radar of militants targeting security forces with the aim to deteriorate peace.

The National Security Committee (NSC) — in a meeting held last week — also decided to kick start an all-out comprehensive operation against militant outfits to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.

The meeting was held in continuation with the NSC meeting after the terrorist attack on January 2, 2023, in Peshawar Police Lines, which claimed the lives of more than 80 people, mainly law enforcers.

Meanwhile, security forces have been conducting operations against terrorists with the determination to eliminate terrorism from the country and resolve to strengthen the sacrifices of its soldiers.

The Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), a think tank in Islamabad, stated that the number of terrorist attacks in the country have increased by 27% last year compared to 2021. At least 419 people were killed, while 734 were injured in 262 terrorist attacks last year.