QUETTA:
The Khorasan chapter of the Ultra-Extermist Islamic State Group has attributed the responsibility of Tuesday’s suicide bombing in a political demonstration in a provincial capital that the authorities said they killed 17 people and wounded many more. The Islamic-Korasan (IS-K) state made the claim through its propaganda arm.
The suicide bomber detonated the position during the demonstration of the National Party of Baluchistan-Mengal (BNP-M) at the Quetta Shahwani stadium. The case was registered at the Police Station of the Terrorism Department (CTD) on Wednesday. Police sources confirmed that the positions of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, use of explosives and other serious crimes have been invoked in the FIR.
This was the second attack addressed to the BNP chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal. The first murder attempt was carried out a few months ago in the Lak Pass area of the Mastung district when Baloch’s politician led a sitting demanding the liberation of Baloch’s political prisoners, particularly members of the Baloch Yekjehti committee.
The BNP has reacted strongly to the last bombardment, promising to continue its struggle for the political and democratic rights of people despite such acts of violence. “We will not bow to such cowardly attacks,” Mengal told the party members on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti firmly condemned the attack, qualifying as a cowardly attempt to destabilize the province. By chairing a high -level meeting on law and order, he ordered the security agencies to take the perpetrators before justice and assured the families of the victims that they would not remain alone in their pain.
Bugti said his administration was committed to restoring peace and strengthening security measures, while instructing health officials to guarantee the best medical care for injured. He added that severely injured patients should be transferred to Karachi through the air ambulance, if necessary.
The additional chief secretary Hamza Shafqat announced a compensation of RS1.5 million for the heirs of each deceased and RS200,000 for each person injured in the name of the main minister.
He said that security threats already existed in Quetta and other parts of Baluchistan, and the administration had repeatedly urged BNP-M to postpone their public meeting due to intelligence warnings. However, the party did not comply with the Council and decided to organize the event independently.
The authorities confirmed that security had squeezed in Quetta and other sensitive districts after the explosion, while researchers are collecting evidence to track those responsible. The political parties, including BNP-M, PKMAP and the National Party, condemned the attack and announced three days of mourning to honor the 17 political workers who lost their lives in the bombing.
(With additional information from AFP)
