JI chief escapes ‘suicide attack’ unscathed

At least one person was killed and four others were wounded in what the police called a suicide attack on the convoy of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq in Balochistan's Zhob district on Friday.

Police sources said there was a blast inside the rally of the JI chief when he reached Zhob from Quetta.

“JI chief Sirajul Haq remained unharmed in the attack," Sher Muhammad, a police official in Zhob, told The Express Tribune via telephone.

He said the JI chief was immediately shifted to a safe location while the injured of the blast to the district headquarters hospital Zhob for medical treatment. An emergency was declared at the hospital to provide proper medical treatment to the injured.

Initial investigation suggested that it was a suicide attack, a senior security official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Investigators reached the site of the incident and collected evidence related to the blast.

"We are investigating the incident," the official stated.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, directing the Balochistan government to investigate the attack from all angles and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also prayed for the complete and quick recovery of the injured.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also condemned the blast, expressing satisfaction over the safety of the JI chief in the attack.

He said that he would not allow any terrorist element and their patrons to succeed in their nefarious ambitions.

“I am deeply saddened that one person was killed and four others were injured in the incident,” he said, adding that he was grateful to God who protected Siraj and his colleagues.

Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove also condemned the incident, directing the police and Levies force to arrest the perpetrators behind the attack.