Ten people were martyred, six terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in a suicide bomb explosion and gun attack in Quetta on Tuesday,
According to police, 32 other people including two FC personnel were injured in the blast occurred near Frontier Corps Headquarters on Zarghoon Road near Model Town in the provincial capital.
Reports suggested that six terrorists wearing FC uniforms including the suicide bomber were killed in retaliation by the security forces personnel.
“Ten people have been killed in the attack near the FC Headquarters,” Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Balochistan Health Minister, told news agencies after the attack. “Thirty-two injured of the blast have been shifted to a hospital in Quetta. Many of them are critical.”
According to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Special Operations Quetta Muhammad Baloch, “The blast occurred as an explosive-laden vehicle took a turn from Model Town towards Hali Road, near the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters.”
The powerful blast was heard across a wide area, including Model Town and surrounding neighbourhoods, shattering windows in nearby homes and buildings.
Television and social media footage captured the moment when the powerful explosion ripped through the street.
Following the explosion, sporadic gunfire was heard in the vicinity, causing widespread fear and confusion among the residents.
The police and rescue teams rushed to the site and an emergency was sounded in all the hospitals of the provincial capital.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and restricted movements while the bomb disposal squads were called in to comb the area.
Rescue teams shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred close to commercial areas.
The law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation while additional security personnel have been deployed to secure the vicinity.
CM Bugti vows peace
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the incident, calling it a terrorist attack. “Following the incident, security forces gave a swift and effective response, eliminating the terrorists.”
“The terrorists cannot weaken the nation’s resolve through cowardly acts. The sacrifices of the people and security forces will not go in vain. We remain committed to making Balochistan peaceful and secure. I express solidarity with the families of the martyrs, pray for the elevation of their ranks, and for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
President Zardari condemns blast
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the incident, saying “India-backed terrorists” were responsible. “President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the suicide attack in Quetta carried out by the Fitna-al-Khawarij, the misguided extremists acting on India’s agenda,” a statement from the President’s Secretariat said.
Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“The president said that the elements serving the interests of Fitna-al-Khawarij and India cannot undermine Pakistan’s peace and stability. He commended the security forces for their timely and effective response, which foiled the malicious designs of the terrorists.”
Per the statement, the president “prayed for the swift recovery of the injured FC personnel and lauded the courage and resolve of the country’s security forces in defending the motherland.”
Mohsin Naqvi commends FC soldiers’ action
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the FC for successfully foiling a major terrorist attack in Quetta, killing six assailants linked to the group dubbed Fitna al-Hindustan, including a suicide bomber.
In a statement, Mohsin Naqvi said, “The brave sons of the FC confronted the attackers with unmatched courage, eliminating them and thwarting their nefarious designs.”
He commended the professional skills and valor of the paramilitary force, adding, “We are proud of our fearless FC soldiers.”
The minister paid tribute to the personnel for their decisive action and offered prayers for the speedy recovery of two soldiers who sustained injuries during the encounter.
Naqvi reiterated the government’s resolve to crush terrorism in all its forms, affirming that such attacks would not shake the nation’s determination.
