Blast in outskirts of Turbat kills 4, injures 35 

TURBAT: A remote-controlled blast in the outskirts of Turbat city, Balochistan has left at least four dead and about 35 injured.

According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zohaib Mohsin is among the injured in the blast.

He said that the SSP sustained minor injuries in the explosion, adding that the authorities are working to determine the nature of the blast. 

The SSP, along with his family, was passing through the area when the explosion rocked the area. Six members of his family also sustained injuries in the explosion.

According to the police, the explosion targeted a bus traveling from Karachi to Turbat near Shahzai Hotel in New Bahman, a suburb of Turbat.

The injured were immediately shifted to Civil Hospital Turbat, where four people succumbed to their injuries during treatment.  The condition of eight injured passengers is reported to be critical. 

Unconfirmed sources claim that rockets were also fired at the bus following the IED explosion.

Following the explosion, a large number of police and security forces arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched an investigation. 

BLA claims responsibility 

The Majeed Brigade, a fidayeen unit of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has claimed responsibility for the attack on the bus in Turbat. 

In a statement, the organization said it takes responsibility for the attack on the bus in Turbat and that a detailed statement will be released soon. 

Condemnations

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast and expressed sympathies with families of the victims while praying for early recovery of the injured.

Shehbaz Sharif said that terrorists would not succeed in their nefarious designs, adding that the government and security forces were taking action against terrorists.

He said the government was determined to root out terrorism from the country.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, while condemning the attack, expressed “deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives”.

“Those who target the innocent do not deserve to be called human beings,” he said, adding that he shared in the grief of the families affected by the incident and prayed for the recovery of the wounded.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin also condemned the blast and extended “heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred”. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.