QUETTA: A deadly explosion rocked the Rakhni market in Barkhan city of Balochistan on Sunday morning, killing at least five people and injuring 13 others, according to police and health officials.
Dr. Abdul Hameed, district health officer (DHO) of Barkhan, confirmed the death toll, saying the wounded had been transported to Rakhni Hospital for treatment.
“One of the injured has died during treatment. The number of dead has increased to five while 13 are injured. The condition of eight injured is critical and they have been shifted to Dera Ghazi Khan for medical assistance,” he said.
According to Barkhan Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Khoso, the blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted on a motorcycle, exploded.
Khoso said the police have arrived at the site and cordoned it off. “Teams have begun collecting evidence from the site,” he added.
Unverified videos circulating on social media show bloodied victims being carried away by volunteers as onlookers gather at the site of the explosion. The aftermath of the blast has left mangled motorcycles and charred vegetables strewn across the road.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time.
Condemnations
Both President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their condolences and grief over the loss of life in the blast. According to separate press releases from the President’s Secretariat and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both leaders prayed for the high ranks of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the wounded.
In response to the incident, Sharif requested a report from the chief minister and police chief of Balochistan. He also emphasised that those who harm innocent people will face severe consequences and directed the provision of the best medical treatment to the injured.
The incident comes amidst a recent spate of violence in KP and bordering areas with Afghanistan. Since talks with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November 2022, the militant group has intensified its attacks, while insurgents in Balochistan have also increased their violent activities and formed a nexus with it.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the blast and directed the authorities to take all possible steps to arrest the culprits. He has also summoned a report on the incident from the police.
“Those who shed the blood of innocent people are enemies of humanity,” the minister said.
“Terrorists are creating uncertainty to achieve their evil goals. But we won’t allow anti-state elements to succeed,” he stated, promising that the government would adopt an effective counter-terrorism strategy.
Bizenjo also directed officials to provide the best medical care to injured people and prayed for the high ranks of the deceased.
Also condemning the incident, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah called the terrorists “enemies of peace and development in Balochistan” and said they would “never succeed in their wicked aims”.
He prayed for the deceased’s high ranks and for their families’ well-being.
Earlier on Saturday, a police van driver and a policeman were martyred and another two injured in a “remote-controlled blast” in Khuzdar district of Balochistan.
Initially, the police said that terrorists carried out the “magnetic bomb attack” on the security squad of Khuzdar Superintendent of Police (SP) Fahad Khan Khoso.
Confirming the incident, Khuzdar Police Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Jan Sasoli informed the media that security squad of SP Fahad Khan Khoso was targeted near Jhalawan Complex in the “remote-controlled blast”.
He said one policeman died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries at the District Headquarters Hospital, Khuzdar where the injured were moved for medical treatment.
“SP Khuzdar’s squad was patrolling in the area when the blast occurred,” SHO Sasoli said, adding that additional police contingents reached the blast site and cordoned off the area.
“A search operation is currently underway,” the SHO added.
