At least 7 people were killed and 17 others injured in a deadly blast targeting the Palestine solidarity rally in the southwestern city of Chaman on Friday.
Balochistan government’s Spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani confirmed the news on social media, saying that the blast occurred during a pro-Palestine rally organized by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Nazaryati (JUI) at Murghi Bazar in Chaman. He said that ten of the injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Chaman and the rest were moved to Quetta as their condition was critical.
The police officers stationed in the area said that the explosives were packed into a motorbike parked near the vehicle of a religious leader taking part in the rally. Photos of the scene show broken glass, rubble and bloodstains.
The area has been sealed and an emergency has been imposed in the local hospitals to treat the injured. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rallies in support of Palestinians were held across Pakistan on Friday as the country marked Palestine Day to express solidarity with the people of Gaza following an 11-day conflict with Israel that had disproportionally affected the Palestinians. At least 243, including dozens of children, were killed in Gaza and tens of thousands were displaced. Israel suffered only 12 fatalities.
Shahwani condemned Friday’s attack, saying that terrorists want to destroy Balochistan’s peace. “The enemies of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians are on the side of Israeli aggression,” he added.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani also condemned the attacks, saying: “Terrorist elements do not deserve any leniency. No one will be allowed to disturb the law and order of the province.” He expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and directed the authorities to provide the best medical facilities that they can offer.
This incident comes a few weeks after an explosion at Quetta’s luxurious Serena Hotel that killed five people and wounded 12.