Quetta seminary blast deaths climb to 15

QUETTA: The death toll of Thursday's powerful bomb blast in Quetta has reached 15 as another critically injured victim died in the hospital on the night between Thursday and Friday, Geo News reported.

At least 37 others were injured, some of them seriously, in the explosion outside a Madrassa (seminary) in the Satellite Town here.

The bomb was detonated outside Madrassa Jamia Islamia Muftaul Uloom soon after the Dastaar Bandi of students, who had completed religious education. Panic gripped the area as unknown people started aerial firing after the blast.

Confirming the number of deaths, official sources said that 14 people were killed and 37 were injured in the powerful bomb explosion, which took place near the main gate of the religious school. The condition of some of the injured was stated to be precarious. Reports suggested that the bomb was strapped to a bicycle, which had been parked outside the religious school. The explosion took place at around 3:05pm as soon as the students and others started coming out of the seminary after the congregation.

Fifty-one people were injured in the blast and two of them, stated to be students of the religious school, were killed instantly. “It was a remote controlled bomb, which was tied to a bicycle,” said DIG Police Qazi Wahid.

Human body parts and blood were scattered all over the place and the injured were seen crying in pain. Official and Edhi Foundation ambulances rushed to the spot and started shifting the victims to hospitals of the city. Emergency was declared in all hospitals of Quetta.

On being informed, police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area as officials of the bomb disposal squad examined the type of explosive material used. It was a time device weighing 5-6 kilograms, said an official of the bomb disposal squad.

The deceased were identified as Attaur Rehman, Haji Inayatullah, Muhammad Younus, Bilal Ahmed, Nazeer Ahmed, Maulvi Rahatullah, Qari Atta Muhammad, Abdul Karim, Pir Bukhsh, Faizullah, Adil Ahmed, Kalimullah, Mohidullah and Muhammad Din.

Three cars, one auto rickshaw and one motorcycle were damaged in the explosion, while windowpanes of nearby buildings were also smashed. “The religious school was the apparent target of the blast,” DIG Police Qazi Wahid said.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has expressed deep concern over the bomb explosion. A spokesman for the provincial government said that the government would provide maximum health facilities to the injured. He added that the government would also compensate the deceased and injured.

APP adds: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, acting President Dr Fehmida Mirza and acting Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of innocent lives in the bomb blast. In separate statements, they termed the blast a barbaric and shameful act of terrorism, adding that elements involved in such activities were the enemies of humanity and the country.

Online adds: Tribal elder Muhammad Raza Muhammad Hasni was shot dead by unknown armed persons in district Chagai. According to Levies Force, in the centre of Chagai bazaar, unknown gunmen opened fire on tribal leader Muhammad Raza, who was boarding a van, killing him on the spot.