QUETTA: Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said on Wednesday that the death toll from the suicide blast at Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) rally on Quetta’s Sariab Road has risen to 15,
Kakar apprised that out of the 38 wounded in the explosion, eight are currently being treated at the trauma centre, and an investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident.
“The suicide bomber could not reach the rally venue due to extremely tight security arrangements,” the minister said.
A day earlier, the blast ripped through a busy area near Quetta’s Shahwani Stadium in the evening, leaving several of the wounded in critical condition.
With the Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directing the authorities to shift the wounded to Karachi if needed.
Moreover, a case has been registered against unidentified individuals over the suicide attack featuring murder, attempted murder and anti-terrorism provisions, said a spokesperson of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).
“The remains of the suicide bomber have been taken into custody and will be sent for forensic analysis,” the spokesperson added
Briefing the media today, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat said that eight kilogrammes of explosives was used in the suicide attack.
“Permission for the rally was not being given but there was pressure [to do so] from the organisers,” he said.
Noting that the suicide bomber could not be identified but he was less than 30 years old, Shafqaat said that the government had provided security for the BNP’s rally with 120 police personnel being deployed, and that the damage would have been much greater had the blast — which occurred 45 minutes after the rally had culminated — taken place at the rally’s venue.
“The organisers of the rally were told three times to end the rally,” the official said, while highlighting that the allotted time for the rally was 3pm and the explosion occurred at 9pm.
“There are some details that we cannot share at this time, as it will be premature [to do so].
“The security threat issued by the administration should be taken seriously. If the organisers had taken it seriously, this would not have happened,” he added.
Apprising the media of further security risks, the official said that there is a threat from 22 individuals who have entered Balochistan.
“Suicide bombers may also be among those entering Balochistan,” he said.
Reflecting on the Sariab Road blast, Shafqaat termed the incident unfortunate and stressed that it nothing could be done to prevent it — due to the nature of it being a suicide attack.
“The Sariab incident was out of [our] control,” he remarked, while further highlighting that there is a threat alert for Rabi ul Awal 12 as well.
“[The govt] issued the permission for the rally and takes responsibility [for the incident],” he said.
Noting that the political party was duly apprised of the security threat, the additional chief secretary said that from now on the government will not allow rallies and gatherings to be held after sundown.
On the overall security situation, Shafqaat recalled that more than 100 people died during August 2024; however, no civilians died during the same month this year.
Noting that Tamp assistant commissioner was safe, he said efforts were underway to recover Ziarat AC.
