At least six security personnel were killed and 27 others, including policemen, were injured in a suicide attack near Jail Road in Sibi district of Balochistan. The so-called ISK has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hafeez Rind, a senior official at the Sibi Counter-Terrorism Department, told a private media network that it appears to be a suicide attack, but further investigations were ongoing.
Hafeez Rind said that the blast took place about half an hour after the participation of Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi, in Sibi Mela. While the French news agency AFP quoted senior police officer Dostain Dashti as saying that the blast occurred 25 minutes after President Alvi left the festival.
Security officials said the President was eating at the Sibi Circuit House when the blast occurred. The security personnel deployed on President’s route to the festival were targeted. Officials said that 6 security personnel were killed and 27 others were injured in the blast.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the blast. Bizenjo said the blast was an attempt to sabotage the festival and overall peace in Balochistan. The chief minister directed the police to stiff the security and arrest the culprits.
Sibi attack is the second blast of its kind within a week in Balochistan. Earlier a bomb blast in Quetta city killed the deputy superintendent of police among 3 three.
Meanwhile, the international terrorist group, Daesh Khorasan (ISK) has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the group, it was a suicide attack while the suicide bomber was identified as Abdul Rehman Al-Pakistani.