A powerful blast has rocked Mastung district in Balochistan, injuring at least 11 people, including prominent Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah.
The incident occurred today as Hamdullah and his entourage were traveling from Quetta to Kalat, shortly after crossing Mastung.
The authorities concerned in the area had confirmed that 11 people had been injured in the blast and were promptly transferred to Quetta for medical treatment.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri told the media that Hamdullah was not critically injured providing reassurance regarding Hafiz Hamdullah’s condition.
“He is okay. He is injured but the situation is not critical. The gunmen and the others accompanying him also sustained minor injuries, but they are okay. There is no serious issue at the moment.”
Ghauri also mentioned that the nature of the blast, whether it was a suicide attack or a planted bomb, remained unclear.
Balochistan Interim Home Minister Zubair Jamali strongly condemned the incident and instructed relevant authorities to provide a comprehensive report.
He urged the district administration to extend all possible assistance to the injured individuals and offered prayers for their swift recovery. He affirmed the government’s commitment to utilizing all available resources to combat terrorism.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condemnation for the incident and offered his prayers for the injured. He stressed the importance of bringing terrorists and their facilitators under the law.
Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister, retired Justice Maqbool Baqar, joined in condemning the blast and expressed his grief over the injuries sustained. He affirmed the nation’s unity against terrorism and offered his prayers for the speedy recovery of the victims.
In response to the blast, Sindh police chief Riffat Mukhtar has directed provincial police to maintain a high state of alertness and to carry out their duties with utmost vigilance and diligence.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion at this time. However, it is worth noting that the JUI-F has previously been targeted by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). The ISKP has previously suspected JUI-F leaders of having close ties with the Taliban administration in neighboring Afghanistan. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
