Quetta: At least five people lost their lives while 29 others sustained injuries in a blast targeting a political rally in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, Pakistani officials said. The blast occurred at a rally of the political party Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) at Shahwani Stadium in Quetta, the provincial capital.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Balochistan Health Department confirmed in a statement to the media that the explosion resulted in five fatalities and 29 injuries. The wounded were transported to Quetta Civil Hospital, where they received first aid before being admitted to the trauma center for further medical care.
Rescue teams swiftly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the nearest government-run medical facility. Security forces cordoned off the area, initiating an investigation into the incident.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "cowardly act of enemies of humanity." He emphasized the importance of providing the best medical facilities to the injured and instructed hospital administration and medical staff to remain vigilant, ensuring no negligence in treatment.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast. The incident occurs amid a surge in terror attacks across Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, which border Afghanistan.