Special investigation team to probe Quetta blast

QUETTA: As the country mourns over the Quetta blast in which seven people, including five Balochistan Constabulary personnel, were martyred yesterday, a special investigation team has been constituted on Wednesday to probe to attack. The SSP investigation will head the team.



The attack, claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), took place on GPO Chowk, a busy street in a high-security zone some 300 metres from the Balochistan Assembly.

The process of collecting evidence from the blast scene, meanwhile, continued a day after the blast. The area of the provincial capital where the bomb went off remained sealed while traffic on the roads leading to the blast site was also suspended for the second consecutive day.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers of the martyred Balochistan Constabulary personnel were also offered on Wednesday.

Security remains on high-alert across Balochistan, particularly in Quetta. Police and FC officials have taken their positions in the nearby area while an FIR was also registered at the Civil Lines police station.

The blast in Quetta on Tuesday took place hours after Sanaullah Zehri resigned as chief minister of Balochistan, although there was no indication that the blast was connected to provincial politics.

It targeted a police truck where the security personnel were standing after performing their duties at the assembly building. Five security personnel died on the spot as a result of the explosion while 16 others, including eight security personnel, sustained injuries.



Over 900 police and Balochistan Constabulary personnel were deployed inside and outside the Zarghoon Road to protect the Balochistan Assembly session.

The IG Police also refuted speculation that the suicide bomber wanted to target the assembly session where a no-confidence motion against the chief minister was to be discussed.