Quetta: At least four people including two police personnel were killed and 22 injured in separate blasts targeting police, officials said. First blast occurred near police vehicle parked next to Qandahari Bazaar on Shahrah-i-Iqbal, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Captain (retd) Zohaib Mohsin, who also confirmed deaths of two police officers in attack.

“Explosives were planted in motorcycle,” he said, adding that injured also included women and children. “According to initial information, three to four kilogrammes of explosives were used in blast,” police official said. “Due to blast, two vehicles, including police van were damaged.” Quetta Civil Hospital spokesperson Dr Wasim Baig confirmed number of victims in first blast as four dead and 18 injured, saying that deceased also included minor girl. TV footage showed damaged police automobile surrounded by number of personnel. Several ambulances were also seen leaving site of explosion. Responsibility for attack was claimed by banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is an armed insurgent group carrying out militant activities against state of Pakistan. Among its agenda is secession for Balochistan. Separately, Baig confirmed that four people were injured in second attack at Munir Mengal Road. SSP Mohsin said Sariab Station House Officer Ehsanullah Marwat’s vehicle was targeted at Munir Mengal Road near Sariab Phatak. He said two passers-by were injured in blast from an improvised explosive device and were taken to Civil Hospital for treatment. Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar too directed health department to provide medical facilities to victims and instructed law enforcement agencies to utilise all available resources to arrest culprits involved.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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