Nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary were martyred and nine others were injured in a blast in Balochistan's Bolan, Geo News reported Monday, citing police officials.
The police said that the injured were being shifted to the divisional headquarters According to the police, the blast occurred near the Kambri bridge area of Bolan and the injured are being shifted to Divisional Headquarters Hospital.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Kachhi Mehmood Notezai said that the preliminary evidence suggests it was a suicide attack, and later, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed it.
He said that a bomb disposal team reached the site of the incident and the area is being searched after the explosion.
The police said that three of the injured are in critical condition and are being shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Sibi.
"The motorcycle-riding suicide bomber in Bolan reached Dadar tehsil at 10 am," Sanaullah said during a press conference, adding that the constabulary officials were returning from security duty at the Sibi Mela.
Sanaullah further said no organisation has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. He said 13 people had been injured in the attack, and three were in critical condition.
"The injured have been transferred to Quetta by helicopter."
Sanaullah also reiterated the government's aim to curb the rising terrorism in the country and said: "Terrorism will be controlled and eliminated as soon as possible."
"The promises made to the provinces in the apex committee are being fulfilled."
He lamented that Balochistan's youth had sacrificed a lot for the establishment to establish peace in the province, adding that all needs expressed by provinces were being "fulfilled immediately".
Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the incident, saying that the elements involved in terrorism want to achieve nefarious goals through cowardly actions.
"A conspiracy is being hatched to keep the province from progressing by creating unrest and instability," he said, assuring that all these conspiracies will be foiled with the support of the people.
He offered his condolences to the families of those who were martyred.
Medical superintendent of Quetta's Civil Hospital said that emergency had been imposed at the facility and all the staff including consultants, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics had been called for duty. He said that all staff and doctors were present in the general and emergency wards and operation theatres.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the suicide attack and expressed deep grief over the loss of security force personnel.
"We will clean the country of the curse of terrorism. Militancy in Balochistan is a part of the nefarious agenda of creating instability in the country," the premier said.
Moreover, he issued directives for the provision of the best medical treatment for the injured.
"We pay tribute to those who embraced martyrdom for the safety of the country," Sanaullah said. He also offered condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
The entire nation is standing by the security forces, he added. Later, the minister sought a report from the authorities on the attack.
Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, while condemning the attack, said that terror activities cannot terrify law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
He regretted the loss of lives and said that the nation was standing with the LEAs. Moreover, Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langau also condemned the incident.
Balochistan Governor Abdul Wali Kakar strongly condemned the blast and expressed deep grief.
Provincial assembly speaker Jan Mohammad Jamali also condemned the incident, saying that the sacrifices made by the forces against terrorism will always be remembered.
According to a notification, a helicopter of the Balochistan government has been dispatched from Quetta to Bolan. "The injured will be moved to Quetta through the helicopter," it added.
An emergency has been imposed in the hospitals on the instructions of the chief minister while doctors and hospital staff has been called.
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