ISLAMABAD, Jan 8 (NNN-APP) – A bomb went off, near a security forces’ vehicle, in provincial capital Quetta, of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, leaving two people killed and 18 others injured, hospital sources and police said.
The target of the explosion was a vehicle of a paramilitary troops Frontier Corps, and several of them were injured in the attack, Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police, Abdul Razzaq Cheema, said.
Those injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta, whose spokesperson, Waseem Baig, said, they received 18 people with multiple kinds of injuries.
A state of emergency was declared at the hospital, to tackle the emergency situation, Baig said, adding that, several of the injured are in critical condition, while others will be discharged after treatment.
Rescue sources from a non-governmental organisation, Edhi Foundation, said, the explosion was caused by the detonation of an improvised explosive device, planted on a motorbike, parked by militants near the blast site.
The Frontier Corps’ vehicle was on its routine patrolling in the area when the device exploded near it.
The explosion has not been claimed by any group or individual yet, but in the past, attacks on security forces were claimed by or attributed to separatist groups.
Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister of Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, ordered an immediate inquiry, and sought report from relevant authorities. He also condemned the attack and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured.– NNN-APP
