QUETTA: The death toll from Tuesday’s suicide bombing targeting a Balochistan National Party (BNP) rally in Quetta has climbed to 15, confirmed Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar on Wednesday. Authorities fear more suicide bombers may have entered the province, prompting a sweeping security alert.
Of the 38 people injured, eight remain under treatment at the trauma centre. An investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident. Officials noted that the attacker failed to reach the rally venue due to heavy security, reducing the scale of destruction.
The blast, which struck near Shahwani Stadium in the evening, left several critically wounded. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed hospitals to shift serious cases to Karachi if necessary. Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing deep grief and pledging justice.
President Zardari urged institutions to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, while praying for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Shehbaz termed the attack “cowardly and condemnable,” calling it proof of terrorists’ attempts to spread chaos in Balochistan. He vowed that the fight against terrorism would continue until the menace is eradicated.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a case against unidentified attackers under murder, attempted murder, and anti-terrorism charges. Remains of the bomber have been recovered for forensic testing.
Rising Security Concerns
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), June alone saw 78 terrorist attacks across the country, killing at least 100 people — including 53 security personnel and 39 civilians. Another 189 were wounded.
Balochistan Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat revealed that eight kilograms of explosives were used in the blast. He said the rally organisers had been warned three times to end the event early due to security threats. The explosion occurred almost six hours after the allotted rally time, narrowly missing a larger tragedy.
Shafqaat further disclosed that 22 suspected militants have entered the province, with fears that suicide bombers may be among them. He stressed that security warnings must be taken seriously.
“The Sariab Road incident was out of our control,” he said, noting that suicide attacks are nearly impossible to prevent completely. He added that the government will no longer permit rallies or gatherings after sundown, citing public safety.
While acknowledging past heavy casualties in the province, Shafqaat said civilian deaths had been significantly reduced this year. Security forces remain on high alert amid continued threats.
