Five kids killed in bomb attack targeting police

Cop, civilian among nine dead; Balochistan CM condemns heinous act

QUETTA:

An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Balochistan's Mastung district on Friday morning leaving nine people, including five children, a police officer and a civilian, dead and injuring 17 others, local officials said.

Kalat Division Commissioner Naeem Bazai said that the explosion occurred at around 8:35am near the District Headquarters Hospital. Initial investigations suggested that an IED attached to a motorcycle was detonated near a police mobile unit.

Following the explosion, the injured were immediately shifted to the Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital and the Mastung District Headquarters Hospital. Eleven critically injured were later sent to the Quetta Trauma Centre for specialised care.

Waseem Baig, the Spokesman Civil Hospital Quetta described the condition of five as still critical. Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar visited the civil hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. He instructed hospital administrations to provide the best medical care.

The tragic incident has sparked concerns about security in the area as officials work to uncover the motive and identify those responsible. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, terming it a heinous act against civilians and children. He vowed to apprehend those behind the violence and ensure they face justice.

In light of the attack, an emergency was declared in regional hospitals to prioritise the treatment of the injured. Security measures had been ramped up across Mastung and surrounding areas, with law-enforcement agencies on high alert to prevent further incidents, the officials said.

In July, at least 14 people were injured in the Mastung district. The incident occurred when supporters of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) clashed with security forces. In September, senior journalist Nisar Lehri was shot dead in the Gulkand area of Mastung over a land dispute.

Last year, at least 60 people, including a policeman, died and 60 others were injured when a suicide bomber targeted an Eid Miladun Nabi procession in Mastung. The attack took place during the preparations for Friday prayers.

After the blast, dozens of the injured were admitted to various government-run hospitals in Quetta. The provincial government declared emergency at all government-run hospitals to provide timely medical treatment to the injured.

Meanwhile, Unicef, in a statement, condemned the heinous attack in Mastung. "Unicef offers its heartfelt condolences to all the families affected by this terrible event and wishes the injured a swift recovery," it added.

The UN body said violence in or around educational establishments and health facilities was never acceptable.?"Schools should be safe, protective spaces for children to learn, be with friends, and gain the skills they need for their future," it said.

"No parent should send their child to school in the morning, not knowing if they will return home later that day. Children and adolescents are not, and must never be, the target of violence. Their safety and protection must be ensured at all times and their fundamental rights must be upheld," it added.

Unicef emphasised that going to school should never be an act of courage. It called for an end to the senseless violence and stressed the need for ensuring the safety and protection of all children.