In a tragic incident in Balochistan’s Mastung district, an explosion near a police mobile close to Civil Hospital and Girls School Chowk on Friday claimed the lives of eight people, including five schoolchildren, and left 29 others injured. The blast occurred around 8:35 AM and targeted a busy area, resulting in severe casualties, including school children aged between five and ten years.
The reports suggest that an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a motorcycle was detonated near a police van, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and nearby auto-rickshaws. Several of the injured were immediately rushed to local hospitals, with six in critical condition being transferred to Quetta for urgent medical care.
Kalat Division Commissioner Naeem Bazai confirmed the attack’s details, explaining that while seven fatalities were initially reported, the death toll increased as one more person succumbed to injuries later. The authorities have since cordoned off the area to ensure public safety and prevent further incidents.
Mastung District Police Officer (DPO) Miandad Umrani stated that four policemen were among the injured. The impact of the blast caused significant damage to the police mobile and surrounding vehicles, creating chaos in the area as rescue operations began.
Condemnations poured in following the attack, with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti denouncing the targeting of children. He emphasized that the attack was not only an assault on innocent lives but also a cruel demonstration of the “terrorists'” strategy to strike “soft targets.” In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he pledged to avenge the victims and urged the public to remain vigilant in combating terrorism.
Pakistani Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, noting that it highlights the “terrorists’” disdain for education and their intent to create instability in Balochistan. Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani echoed these sentiments, calling the perpetrators “enemies of humanity” and reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating “terrorism.”
While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, this bombing adds to a growing number of violent incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security analysts have pointed out a disturbing uptick in militant activities across the country, despite government efforts to curtail these threats.