QUETTA: The provincial capital of Balochistan witnessed the most dastardly act of terrorism in which at least 69 people were killed and around 112 were severely injured, some of them seriously, when an early morning explosion took place on Monday in Quetta’s Civil Hospital.
The high-intensity bomb explosion occurred when dead body of Balochistan Bar Association President Bilal Kasi was brought there after his target killing, eye witnesses said.
The explosion took place when lawyers had gathered outside Emergency Ward of the hospital where the dead body of the President Balochistan Bar Council Bilal Anwar Kasi, had been brought for autopsy. Official said about 7 to 8 kgs of explosive with ball bearing was used in the blast by the suicide bomber.
Bilal Kasi was earlier shot dead by unknown gunmen on Mannu Jan road Quetta when he was on his way from his home to Balochistan High Court.
Eye witnesses said that several lawyers were killed and injured in the explosion. Some media persons who had reached at the civil hospital were also injured while cameraman of Aaj TV channel was killed.
Police said that unknown men also opened fire after the blast. Panic tore through the hospital after the incident. The blast occurred after Balochistan Bar Association’s president was gunned Town on Mano Jaan road of the city. He was shot dead by unknown gunmen as he came out of his home to proceed to the court.
His body was brought to the hospital. The suicide explosion occurred when lawyers gathered at the hospital to pay their condolence. Reports said that majority of those killed and injured were Lawyers. Among the dead is former President of Quetta Bar Association Baz Mohammad Kakar.
Security forces have surrounded the area. Emergency has been declared at the hospitals of the city and leaves of the doctors and paramedics have been cancelled.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have strongly denounced the blast at civil hospital in Quetta and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
Deploring the loss of precious lives in the incident, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to maintain utmost vigilance and beef up security for the legal fraternity and members of civil society.
PM Nawaz Sharif said no one will be allowed to disturb peace in the province that has been restored due to countless sacrifices of security forces, police and the people of Balochistan.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif dashed to Quetta and straight went to the civil hospital and inquired about the health of the injured. He directed the shifting of seriously injured to Combined Military hospital.
Later, the COAS visited Balochistan High Court and during meeting with Chief Justice and other judges expressed his solidarity with the lawyers. He expressed his grief over the loss of so many lives of lawyers and other citizens.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said it will have to be seen who are the facilitators and financiers of the terrorists. He said they are enemies of the country and said the security forces are standing like a rock to eliminate them. He said RAW was behind the blast and the enemies would be followed and arrested.
The Chief Minister announced a three day mourning in the province.
Commander Southern Command Lt General Aamir Riaz visited Civil Hospital and met the injured persons. He also consoled the relatives of the dead and injured and assured them that the culprits would not go unpunished.
Strongly condemning the suicide blast at Civil hospital here Home Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti vowed that those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice. Bugtu said that Balochistan government is in pain and sorrow over the incident.
Targeting a lawyer on one hand and targeting people at Civil hospital on the other is a security lapse and action will be taken against whosoever is found responsible for inferior security measures, he added.
He further said that notice has been taken about the absence of security at lawyers’ protest while emergency has been imposed at all hospitals in Quetta.
Sarfraz Bugti said it was a pre-planned strike by terrorists as the explosion took place when the dead body of Bilal Anwar Kasi was brought to the civil hospital and large number of lawyers and media persons were present outside the emergency department. The blast destroyed the emergency and casualty departments.He said the government would protect the lives of the people.
The injured were then shifted to Combined Military Hospital, Bolan medical hospital and private hospitals.
Talking to media the spokesman of Balochistan government Anwar ul Haq Kakar said that emergency has been declared in all hospitals of the city. He said that all medical facilities are being provided to those injured in the incident.
The spokesman said that the terrorists are resorting to such acts to make their presence felt by the people.
However, he said the government is determined to go to any limit to root out terrorism.
The President and the Prime Minister directed for provision of best treatment to those injured in the attack. They prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have also condemned the Quetta blast.
Leaders from a cross sectionof people have condemned the bloodshed in Quetta. They include former Chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Federal Minister Mir Hasil Bizenjo, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Former President also offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for eternal peace to those who lost their lives and speedy recovery to those injured.
President of Supreme Court Bar Association Mr Ali Zafar while condemning the blast said there is no doubt that lawyers were target of the terrorists. He insisted for a strategy to protect the lawyers across the country in general and Quetta in particular. He said the governments have failed to provide security to the people.
Ali Zafar said the lawyers of the entire country are standing with their Quetta brothers as the attack is not against Quetta lawyers but against the entire legal community. He announced a week of mourning for the killed lawyers.
