Quetta (January 09, 2018): At least seven persons, including four police personnel, were martyred and 16 others injured on Tuesday when a power explosion rocked Quetta’s Zarghoon road near the Balochistan Assembly building.
Sources said security personnel were on their way back upon completion of routine duty when the explosion took place. The blast also damaged a public bus nearby.
The rescue teams and security forces have reached the the blast scene, while security forces have cordoned off the area.
The injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital and Balochistan Medical Complex (BMC), while emergency has been declared in these medical facilities.
Sources told Abbtakk News the police truck was the target in the blast. The blast was occurred just 300 meters away from Balochistan assembly and also leads to the CM Balochistan secretariat.
The death toll is expected to rise as condition of several injured persons is said to be critical. The local authorities have also declared emergency at hospitals across the city.
The window panes of nearby building and vehicle stationary around the blast scene have been damaged.
Police personnel took positions around the provincial assembly building, while additional contingents were also called in following the blast.
Security officials said a bomb disposal team was also present at the location conducting necessary search and sweep exercise and examining the nature of blast.
More than six thousand security personnel were deployed in Quetta’s Red Zone area as the provincial lawmakers were expected to submit a no-confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri today.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called Zehri and advised him to step down.
(This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.)
