Four die as bomb rips through PTI rally in Sibi
The explosion occurred as the rally, belonging to the former ruling party, was passing through the main Jinnah Road in Sibi. PHOTO: X/PTIBALOCHISTAN
A bomb blast tore through an election rally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Sibi town of Balochistan on Tuesday evening, leaving at least four people dead and five others injured, according to police and witnesses.
Saddam Tareen, the PTI candidate for the National Assembly constituency of NA-253, who was leading the rally on Jinnah Road, escaped unharmed. The injured were transported to the Sibi district headquarters (DHQ) hospital for urgent medical attention.
Dr. Babar, the medical superintendent of the DHQ hospital, confirmed the deaths of four individuals in the blast. "We have received four bodies from the blast site," Dr. Babar stated, noting that five others were admitted to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.
The deceased were identified as Hamad Khan, son of Sarwar Khan; Abd al-Waas, son of Abd al-Basit; and Muhammad Rafiq, son of Hussain Bakhsh. The identity of one deceased individual could not be immediately ascertained.
The five injured were identified as Sohrab Khan, son of Akbar Khan; Ronq Kumar, son of Naresh Kumar; Nader Hussain, son of Muhammad Waris; Mir Muhammad, son of Noor Muhammad, and Abdul Haseeb, son of Muhammad Khan.
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Police reported that initial investigations indicate an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted on a motorcycle parked by the roadside. The IED detonated with significant force as the PTI rally passed through the area, they added.
In the aftermath of the blast, all shops and markets along the main Jinnah Road were shuttered. Law enforcement personnel cordoned off the area and initiated investigations. Security measures were intensified in and around Sibi following the incident.
Abdullah Khan, the provincial health secretary, declared a state of emergency in all hospitals in the area, as well as in Quetta, in response to the blast. Hospitals were on high alert, and medical personnel were working tirelessly to provide immediate care to the injured.
Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki took notice of the incident and directed the police to arrest the culprits behind the attack. In a statement, Domki vowed that the perpetrators of the blast would be brought to justice.
Following the bomb blast, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a statement, expressing concern over the explosion during a political rally in Sibi. The ECP sought a report from the provincial chief secretary and Inspector General (IG) police about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Several PTI leaders slammed the attack on the party rally. “Not only Tehreek-e-Insaf, but entire Pakistan strongly condemns this terrorism,” the PTI Balochistan posted on the microblogging website X. “Saddam Tareen is safe in the attack,” it added.