Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for attack on a meeting of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in Dalbandin, Balochistan.
According to The Balochistan Post’s correspondent, at least 30 people were injured, some seriously, in a grenade attack on a corner meeting of BAP in Dalbandin, Chaghi. The attack was carried out last night by pillion riders.
Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a hospital. Five of the wounded are said to be in a critical condition.
BAP, the newly formed political party in Balochistan, is considered close to Pakistan’s military establishment.
Saeed Sarbazi, a Karachi-based journalist, had told a media outlet that BAP is part of the Pakistani military establishment’s plan to confront Baloch nationalist groups.
BAP emerged after lawmakers from the former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) revolted and joined the opposition in moving a no-confidence vote against their coalition administration in Balochistan.
BLA takes responsibility:
On Monday, BLA’s spokesperson, Jeehand Baloch, released a media statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
‘Last night BLA fighters hurled grenades at an office of BAP, the Pakistani intelligence agency backed so-called political party in Dalbandin,’ Jeehand Baloch told media.
He added that we have time and again warned public to stay away from ‘Pakistani agents’ as they are continuously on our target.
‘Baloch nation’s liberation and the national salvation can only be attained through complete independence. Pakistan’s selection coated as elections cannot substitute this,’ BLA’s Jeehand Baloch said in the media statement.
This is second attack by BLA in two days. On Saturday, unknown men had hurled a grenade at a shop in Mach town of Bolan district. Two men were injured in the attack.
On Sunday, BLA had claimed responsibility for the grenade attack on the shop.
“Last night we attacked agents of secret services in Mach town, and there will be no concession for such men, who work for secret services of Pakistan”, Jeehand Baloch had said in a press release.