Three-day mourning for railway blast victims

QUETTA:

In a rushed visit to the Balochistan capital on Sunday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti at the Chief Minister Secretariat to take stock of security protocols in the aftermath of Saturday's devastating suicide attack at the city's railway station.

The attack, which targeted passengers, claimed at least 26 lives and left dozens of others injured. Also, the province declared three days of mourning as it comes to terms with the devastating loss of life. Both Naqvi and Bugti expressed solidarity with the victims and pledged to intensify efforts against terrorism.

"The government is fully committed to strengthening resources for peace in Balochistan and ensuring the eradication of terrorism," Naqvi affirmed, extending the federal government's support. Bugti echoed this resolve, assuring that Balochistan would use all available resources to protect citizens.

As authorities ramped up security, deploying additional forces across Quetta to prevent further incidents, the chief minister assured security would be ensured and vowed that "those responsible for these subversive acts will be brought to justice".

In the meeting, they offered Fateha for the martyrs and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families. It was decided in the meeting that steps would be taken to crush terrorists and intelligence-based operations (IBOs) would be expanded to thwart the nefarious designs of anti-state elements.

Addressing the meeting, Naqvi said the federal government would provide all possible support to the Balochistan government to deal with the menace of terrorism. He also announced Balochistan would be provided resources on a priority basis.

He also said training would be provided to strengthen the professional capabilities of levies, police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and other forces in Balochistan to effectively deal with the menace of terrorism. Bugti vowed to root out the menace and ensure peace in the province.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Home Shahab Ali Shah, Provincial Inspector General Police Moazzam Jah Ansari and other high-ranking officials, including Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, attended the meeting.

In a subsequent high-level security meeting co-chaired by Naqvi and Bugti, officials discussed enhancing IBOs to counter terrorist threats more effectively. The interior minister pledged the modernization of police, CTD and levies with additional federal support which would be aimed at boosting their operational efficiency.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, IG Police Muazzam Jah Ansari, and Additional Chief Secretary Interior Shahab Ali Shah. They under-scored the commitment to stability in the province.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail visited the Trauma Centre at the Civil Hospital and inquired about the measures being taken for the recovery of blast victims. Over a dozen remain in critical condition, with the city gripped by panic in the wake of the tragedy.

At least 26 passengers – including women – were martyred and more than 60 others injured when a suicide bomb attack tore through the Quetta railway station on Saturday morning. The bomber detonated the explosives in the midst of passengers waiting on the platform to board the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express, which was set to chug off at 9am.

An outlawed Baloch terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombing which came a week after terrorists detonated an IED near a girls' school and a hospital in Mastung district which claimed eight lives, including those of five children.

First responders saw chaos at the scene as passengers lay dead and injured in pools of blood and a large metal shed of the platform blown off by the impact of the blast. Firefighters, rescuers and passengers were working through abandoned luggage on the platform, guarded by heavily armed security forces.

Railway officials in Quetta said that the blast happened near the ticket booth when two trains were scheduled to depart. Rescuers drove the casualties to the Civil Hospital, where a state of emergency was declared.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Noorullah Musakhail confirmed the death toll, saying the victims included both men and women. "We have also received 46 injured people," he said, adding that some of them were being treated for life-threatening wounds.

Sandeman Provincial Hospital Spokesperson Wasim Baig said the injured included 46 members of the security forces and 14 civilians. SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch said two railway police officers, Ghulam Rasool Jamali and Bhoral Khan, were also among the injured.

Train operations suspended

Pakistan Railways on Sunday announced the suspension of train operations from Quetta for four days due to security concerns and in the interest of passenger safety.

Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aamir Ali Baloch, in a statement, said the operations would resume after a security clearance is granted.

Baloch highlighted that Pakistan Railways, with the support of the Balochistan government and security agencies, had successfully made it possible to connect Quetta with the rest of the country.

He stated that such incidents could not weaken the resolve of his department to work relentlessly to facilitate the masses. The CEO commended the Quetta Division team for their immediate response and launch of emergency relief operations following the incident.

He said compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased and to the injured as per the Pakistan Railways' insurance policy.