At least two people were killed, and eight others were injured in a bomb blast that took place in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district on Thursday night, according to sources.
Fahad Khosa, Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of police (SSP), said that the explosion occurred at Sultan Road near Do Talwar Chowk. A bomb was attached to the vehicle using magnets and then detonated through a remote device, according to Mr. Khosa.
As a result of the explosion two people who were inside the vehicle died and eight others were badly injured, sources reported.
The initial findings of the police reveal that one of the dead people was a businessman, who was reportedly targeted by the terrorists.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the terrorist incident in the strongest terms and described it as complete cowardice against innocent civilians. He further added that the nation and Pakistani government are committed to eradicating terrorism and militancy in Pakistan.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo also condemned the blast and expressed his deepest condolences to the affected families.
“Terrorists are targeting innocent citizens. The plot to destabilize the province by spreading terror and chaos will be foiled,” he said in a statement, adding that terrorism should be condemned by all.
Last month, two police officers were killed, and another two were critically injured when a magnetic bomb attached to their vehicle exploded in Khuzdar.
No one or group has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far, however, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have intensified their attacks across Pakistan in the past months.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which share a border with Afghanistan remains volatile in terms of security. Militant groups such as TTP, and BLA in particular have intensified their attacks in those provinces since the outlawed TTP called off its unilateral ceasefire with the Pakistani government last November.
The crisis-hit Pakistan suffers from growing militancy and threats of terrorism among other challenges. TTP along with other insurgent groups has targeted police officers, army personnel, and even ordinary people throughout Pakistan in recent months.
