Explosion at Pakistan’s Balochistan rally leaves 13 dead PHOTO

At least 13 people were killed and 35 injured in a suicide bombing near Shahwani Stadium in Sariab, Pakistan, on the night of September 2, shortly after a public meeting of the Balochistan National Party.

BNP President and MNA Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who presided over the gathering, was unharmed as the blast occurred while he was leaving the venue, Caliber.Az reports, citing Pakistani newspaper.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asghar Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party (ANP), and former senator Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shai of the National Party were also present but escaped uninjured.

However, former BNP MPA Mir Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and the party’s central labour secretary Musa Jan were among those injured, alongside several party workers and supporters.

“We have received 13 bodies and 35 injured at the hospital,” Dr Wasim Baig told Dawn, adding that the condition of several injured was critical.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat initially confirmed the death toll at 11. “So far, 11 people have lost their lives while over 30 are injured,” he said, warning that the toll could rise as many were in serious condition.

Officials confirmed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, who detonated an explosives-laden jacket in the parking area as participants were leaving the meeting. According to police, the explosion occurred about 15 minutes after the meeting concluded.

“The blast took place in the parking area of the stadium,” said BNP’s senior vice president Sajid Tareen, adding that Sardar Mengal was still present at the time but later reached home safely.

Six vehicles, including bulletproof cars belonging to politicians, were damaged in the explosion. Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shai survived as he was inside a bulletproof vehicle when the blast occurred.

In a late-night statement, the Balochistan Home Department said a high-level investigation had been ordered, noting that authorities had collected evidence from the site and that the injured were receiving the best possible medical care.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Ishaq, Najeebullah, Shan, Muhammad Hanif, Madad Khan, Waqir Ahmed, Hafeez, Abdul Nabi, Nasarullah, Allah Bakhsh, Najeebullah, son of Asadullah, Allah Bakhsh, and Muhammad Waqar.

Separate IED attack in Kech District

Separately, five security personnel were killed and three others injured on Tuesday when a convoy of Frontier Corps personnel was targeted in a blast in the Buleda area of Kech district, near the Pakistan-Iran border.

Officials said the convoy was passing near Babar Post when a powerful explosion struck one of the vehicles. A senior security official confirmed that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the roadside by unidentified individuals.

By Aghakazim Guliyev