DSP among 16 martyred in Quetta mosque blast

Ag APP

QUETTA: At least 16 people were martyred and 20 others were injured after a blast struck a mosque located in the city’s Ghousabad neighbourhood on Friday, Geo News reported quoting officials.

According to the police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haji Amanullah was among those who were martyred in the blast that took place during Maghrib prayers. Rescue teams arrived soon to shift the injured to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area to initiate investigation into the incident. Police said a month ago, DSP Amanullah’s son had been martyred in a firing incident. Amanullah was deployed at the Police Training College located on Saryab Road.

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the Pakistan Army will give complete assistance to police and the civil administration, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (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 the Frontier Corps personnel reached the site of the blast.

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast that caused loss of precious lives.

In their separate messages, both the President and the Prime Minister expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

They also directed the authorities concerned to extend the best possible medical facilities to the injured. Khan sought a report from the provincial administration on the incident.

Dr Alvi viewed that the terrorists were making wicked attempts to create unrest in the country, saying the nation was united to foil such designs.

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