Quetta:
The Khorasan chapter in the Ultra-Extremist Islamic State group has assumed responsibility for Tuesday’s suicide bombing at a political rally in a provincial capital, as officials said killed 17 people and injured many more. The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) made the claim through its propaganda arm.
The suicide bomber detonated the charges under the Rally of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (GDP-M) at Quettas Shahwani Stadium. The case was registered by the Police Police Station (Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Wednesday. Police sources confirmed that charges of murder, murder attempts, terrorism, use of explosives and other serious offenses have been invoked in FIR.
This was the second attack targeted against GDP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal. The first assault attempt was made a few months ago in the LAK Pass area of the Mastung district when the Baloch politician led a sit-in that demanded the release of Baloch-Political Prisoners, especially members of the Baloch YekjeTi Committee.
GDP has reacted strongly to the latest bombing and promised to continue its struggle for people’s political and democratic rights despite such acts of violence. “We will not bend because of such Feige attacks,” Mengal told party members on Wednesday.
Main Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned severely attacked and denotes it a fair attempt to destabilize the province. President over a high -level meeting on law and order he instructed security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice and assured the victims’ families that they would not be left alone in their grief.
Bugti said his administration was obliged to restore peace and strengthen security measures, while also instructing health officials to ensure the best medical treatment of the wounded. He added that the critically wounded patients should be moved to Karachi via aerial ambulance if needed.
Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqat announced a compensation of RS1.5 million for the heirs for each deceased and RS200,000 for any wounded person on behalf of the Chief Minister.
He declared that security threats already existed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, and the administration had repeatedly called on the GDP M to postpone its public collection due to intelligence alerts. However, the party did not comply with the council and decided to arrange the event regardless.
Authorities confirmed that security had been tightened over Quetta and other sensitive districts after the explosion, while investigators collect evidence to track those responsible. Political parties, including GDP-M, PKMAP and National Party, condemned the attack and announced three days of grief to honor the 17 political workers who lost their lives in the bombing.
(With additional input from AFP)
