Blast targets bus carrying Shia pilgrims in Quetta, 14 killed
Eyewitnesses said that the bus was carrying pilgrims from Taftan and it was targeted when it was passing near a fruit market in the Hazarganji area. Around 15-20kg explosives were used in the blast. A woman and a policeman are also among the dead.
Earlier Express News had reported eighteen people killed.
Some eyewitnesses have also claimed that the blast was a suicide attack, officials have not confirmed this as yet.
Initial reports also state that four policemen on the mobile were injured after the blast.
There is no confirmation on the nature of the blast as yet.
It has also been reported that the bus was destroyed as a result of the blast.
The injured were shifted to Civil hospital and Bolan Medical Complex.
Correction: An earlier version of this article had incorrectly mentioned the location of Taftan. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (45)
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In the month of June 2012, total 112 Shia Muslims targeted by ANti Shia elements, out of them 32 lost their lives where as 80 wounded. Major activities has been taken in Queta, out of 112/88, 32/23 and 88/65, pertains to Queta. Neither any of arrest nor any particular action noticed by any force enforcement agency. This should also be considered, that our awarded CJ also pertains from Queta, it is his home town ...........what to say more????.
@HazaraFromQuetta: The majority of Pakistanis condemns such attacks. We hope you condemn killings of Sunni scholars who are mostly Balochis as well. Many of them have been targeted in recent days.
I am one of the victims of this terrorist attack. I lost my two uncles. To let you all know that this is one of the contineous operations of Mass Killings of HAZARA SHIA in quetta, where whole pakistan has to take stand. today HAZARA SHIA's tommorow will be you. remember it was started by one by one killings in far areas than business man, than doctors/engineers/officers, than mass killing started on bus routes, eid prayer attacks. and now the chaos is created for them. Remember All have to take stand.otherwise all of you will become victim. To let u all know that media specially PRINT media is too Quiet and continue to print LeJ's statments of shahadat & fedaye suicidal attacks.
Until the country is in hyprocratic state, the instability will never ove.
Literally there is no writ of Government in any part of the Province. Dozens have lost their lives just within a week in Provincial capital. It was second attack on pilgrim’ bus this month. Law and order situation is worse than any city in the world but unfortunately, the Provincial chief still termed it as “all is good”. This barbaric act of terrorism would not come to an end until and unless coordinated and intelligence based operation is not launched against LeJ and SSP who challenge Government after each and every evil deed. Now army should take up this issue as Police and FC have failed to crack down against these elements. This issue pertains to internal security and must be dealt with iron fists before a civil war erupts in the Province.
spirit of declaring one as wazib-e-katal with whom there is difference on religion develops hate. Change is Universal otherwise the world would have been the same as millions of years back. This is applicable to everything including religion.
@Rajendra Kalkhande: Rajendra-ji, very well said! You have put your finger on the bull's eye. I always wonder why Iranian Govt doesn't speak out against these anti-Shia incidents in Pakistan (& Iraq, too)!
@ayesha_khan: You are great lady! Not only here but in your other responses also, I have noticed you bringing out good & often missed points. Carry on your good work, madam
@Kaalchakra & Voice of Gilgit: i am surprised at your naivety, Muslims have been killing each other since the very inception of Islam. Religious extremism has added fuel to this fire, and with the support of petro-dollars from our Arab brethren, a genocide of minorities is on the cards. And there is silent support for this in our establishment and its cronies. You just need to read the comments or the lack of from them about this incident.
@Ali: " ... Hope it doesn’t spread against Indian Shias, ... "
How are they or other Indians who call themselves Muslims connected to all this ... ?
Shias need to migrate west to Iran
This incident is shame for our systems and responsible organizations......May Allah bless them with jannah....Ameen
Where is the PPP government.?? Does it even care?Its hilarious ppl are using this to score political points on SCP. Sure it would be nice and useless to take a suo motu on this (I.e like Karachi Suo motu or Bolochistan badamni suo motu). Buts its the governments constitutionally duty to protects the citizenry.
If you cant secure the road at least make a arrangement with the Irani to get the pilgrims to fly to the Holy cities. If you cant handle security via levies and police or FC declare emergency in the province and hand it over to direct Military control. Do something....
so said accident but to give it a shia -suni line is worst one please grow up ...
Now it seems like it is a all out war against Shias in Quetta. Hope it doesn't spread against Indian Shias,
where is mr sou motto bussy with his familygate and mr tsunami will never make any statements against its voters and supporters. L>j and Sipa sahaba.
"for shias and other minorities living in pakistan its high time to hit out or get out"t
A very sad incident but please restrain yourselves from spreading hatred between brotherly sects. Ask yourselves this question: why would any Pakistani or Muslim do this? There is no reason. Both Shias and Sunnis must protect Pakistan first and foremost and not quarrel among themselves to the benefit of common enemies.
Pakistan is gradually transforming into wahhabism from Sufism
We treat our brethren shia's lives like this and the ghairat brigade/IK complain/burn tires when the amreekan dont value pakistani lives! how hypocritical!!!
SUO MOTO action can be taken on every TOM DICK & HARRY issue but where is our Chief Justice our political parties who stand against the killing of a specific sect on the name of religion. Wake up PAKISTAN - I AM TALKING TO YOU stop these HATE MONSTERS from taking innocent lives.
Blasts have become so common in Pakistan now that they don't make even news outside. No one hears now outside world talking or condemning such happenings in Pakistan. PTI doe not condemn, Mullahs don't condemn, outside world does not condemn; literally except a small section of Pakistanis, no one tales any note of blasts inside Pakistan. There is hardly any good news coming out of Pakistan. What else Pakistanis are now waiting for ? Isn't it enough to sit down and think seriously to correct the path you people have taken? Or else you will keep blaming India, Israel and USA for ever?
My heart bleeds for the pilgrims who were attacked today in Quetta. Targeted killings of the Shia brothers and sisters continues in Pakistan, despite of mega protests and umpteen promises.
The Pakistani state needs to ask itself serious questions. If the state is unable to ensure safety of the lives, properties and honor of its citizens then what its the purpose of is existence?
My deepest, heartfelt condolences, to the bereaved families.
We can fail the designs of the enemies by staying united, preaching peace, understanding and acceptances of differences. If we start hating then we are doing what the terrorists want us to do. Let's fail them. Let's stand united.
@Hakeem: I sent comment to correct the information that was wrongly given in the earlier version of ET article.
In Pakistan humanity is defined on the basis of Ethnicity and Religion and then Sect. Last night 7 settlers in other words Punjabis were killed in Balochistan and there was a minimal response from all circles with no condemnation from any Party including PTI since Punjabis are the most hated and today Shias are killed so we are watching widespread condemnation,. Unless in Pakistan we will consider all human beings as equal the situation will remain same. All are Hypocrites as the blood of your loved ones or the person if belong from you on ethnic or religious lines then it does matter otherwise it is ok to kill people. It is hypocricy and nothing else.
The mullahs are the biggest existential threat to Pakistan. Either rehabilitate them or get rid of them.
@Adil: This is a very powerful comment. I wish to spread it further, if that is alright. I couldn't have said it any better. Devastating times. How many more innocent people have to be murdered?
@mystreeman: Dear correct your information; Taftan is a Pakistani city. Taftan mountine is a village area in Iranian Balochistan.
There is not a single day in Pakistan when heinous crime does not take place whether it is suicide attack, bomb blast, target killing, or murder.
A beautiful country which was created on August 14, 1947 in the name of Islam is been destroyed speedily, so that foreign forces should succeed to rule the country.
There are very few people who are sincere with Pakistan. I can see that revolution is around the corner.
May Al-Mighty Allah help us in overcoming all the problems which are eating up Pakistan like cancer.
very sad. No one is save in Pakistan.
Pakistani right-wing is the most hypocritical in the world. They always blame "liberals" and foreign hands for everything that is wrong in the country, yet never look past their own hypocrisy. Were Swat Taliban Indian or American nationals? Are members of LEJ also blackwater agents?
"This is not our war" What else do you need to make the war against terrorism as war for our survival?
Will the Shias of Pakistan be more or less protected in the upcoming Islamic Welfare State of Pakistan?
We all know why they were targeted!!! They were shia!
Can these people be provided subsidized air transportation? It may save a lot of people from this insanity and shame.
This is not acceptable. I suggest to Shiites in Pakistan to look for alternatives for their protection as there seems to be a complete failure of the civil and military institutions in curbing shia target killing across Pakistan.
This is madness
@Adil: "Yet another incident where LeJ will accept responsibility, ministers will condemn, home secretary will blame foreign powers, relatives will grieve, mothers will wail after their lost sons and daughters… perpetrators will continue living a sheltered existence in a morally corrupt system."
You forgot to add one more important thing: the judiciary will continue to find inadequate evidence against Malik Ishaq to convict him.
Very Sad !!
Terrorism in Quetta does not seem to be abating. "Great game" in full-swing !!!
Yet another incident where LeJ will accept responsibility, ministers will condemn, home secretary will blame foreign powers, relatives will grieve, mothers will wail after their lost sons and daughters... perpetrators will continue living a sheltered existence in a morally corrupt system.
"Iranian city of Taftan", when Taftan has become part of Iran. Kindly correct Taftan is the border down of Pakistan.