Fifteen martyred, more than 20 injured in Quetta blast

QUETTA: As many as 15 people were martyred and more than 20 were injured when a blast struck a mosque in the city Friday night.

The blast took place at a mosque in the city’s densely populated Satellite Town at the Ghausabad neighbourhood. Rescue teams arrived at the location shortly after the blast to shift the injured to the Civil Hospital where they were offered medical treatment.

DSP Amanullah was also martyred in the attack. A month earlier, his son was killed in a firing incident, police confirmed. Amanullah was deployed at the Police Training College in Quetta.

Law enforcement agencies were trying to ascertain the nature and impact of the blast.

COAS says will give full assistance to police and civil administration

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa said that Pakistan Army will give complete assistance to police and the civil administration, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet.

The DG ISPR conveyed the COAS’ message and quoted him as saying: “Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim.”

The army’s spokesman said that the Frontier Corps personnel reached the site of the blast.

FC Bln troops reached Qta blast site. Area cordoned off. Joint search operation with police in progress.Injured being evacuated to hosp.
“Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim”, COAS.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 10, 2020

CM, Governor Balochistan condemn blast

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the blast and expressed grief at the loss of lives. He directed security agencies to take stringent measures across the province to ensure citizens remained safe and secure.

Governor Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also condemned the blast.