Balochistan govt forms judicial commission to probe Aug 8 Quetta tragedy

QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Thursday constituted a judicial commission to probe the August 8 tragedy in Quetta that claimed more than 70 lives.

According to the official press release, the commission will submit its report within 60 days to it the Balochistan government.

The judicial commission will comprise Balochistan High Court’s judge Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel.

At least 70 people were killed and as many as 112 people injured when a powerful explosion ripped through Quetta’s Civil Hospital on August 8. 

At around 8:40 AM President of the Balochistan Bar Association (BBA) Bilal Anwar Kasi was gunned down on Mano Jan Road as he made his way to work. He was rushed to Civil Hospital Quetta.

After the incident was reported on electronic media, members of the legal fraternity started gathering at the hospital. When a large gathering of lawyers was present, the suicide bomber detonated his explosives killing at least 72 with over one hundred injured.

An Aaj News cameraman was killed in the attack while a Dawn News cameraman was severely injured and later succumbed to his wounds.

In the aftermath, three different groups claimed responsibility of this tragic attack; Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hakimullah Mehsud group, and Daesh.