Six FC personnel killed in blast near Quetta

QUETTA: Six personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) were martyred and another received injuries in a blast near the Margat FC check post area on Monday.

The bomb, planted in a coal-mining district 50 kms east of Quetta, was detonated remotely as members of the Frontier Corps patrolled the area, said Khan Wasey, a spokesman for the paramilitary force.

As a result, five FC personnel, Awais Muhammad, Muhammad Qaseem, Fareed, Muhammad Saleem and Mubashir Nadeem, died on the spot while Aqeel and Ghulab received injuries. The bodies and injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where one of the injured succumbed to his injuries.

The law enforcement agencies reached the site and cordoned off the entire area. Further investigation was under way. Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri, provincial ministers including Nawab Jangez Khan Marri, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, IG Police Ahsan Mehboob and senior officials offered the Namaz-e-Janaza of the martyred FC personnel.

Zehri strongly condemned the incident and ordered the law enforcement agencies to arrest the armed attackers as soon as possible. President Mamnoon Hussain, meanwhile, strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He said terrorists could not deter the resolve of the government and people against terrorism through such cowardly attacks. President Mamnoon said that action against anti-state elements would continue across the country till the elimination of terrorism. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also condemned the attack.