A suicide bombing rocked a rally in rebellious Southwest Pakistan on Tuesday night, killing at least 13 people and injuring around 30 others, according to police reports from Wednesday.
The local police chief, Majeed Kaisrani, stated that the blast occurred near a cemetery close to a stadium in Quetta, Balochistan’s capital.
Parts of the attacker were recovered at the scene, he added.
Government Hospital spokesman Waseem Baig confirmed the arrival of 13 deceased individuals alongside dozens who were hurt.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This rally was organized to honor the anniversary of influential nationalist leader and former state chief minister, Sardar Atauramengarh’s death.
While Balochistan Nationalist Party leader Akhtar Mengal was unharmed, some of his followers suffered injuries in the incident, as noted by senior police officer Usama Ameen.
Mengal, a critic of the government, often organizes rallies to advocate for the release of missing Baloch nationalists.
Balochistan Prime Minister Sarhuraz Bhuguti condemned the bombing, describing it as an act against humanity, and insisted that the injured receive top-notch medical care. He also called for a high-level investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
In Islamabad, Home Minister Mohsin Nakvi echoed the condemnation and suggested that “India-backed terrorists and their facilitators” are trying to create instability by attacking civilians, although he did not provide any supporting evidence for this claim.
New Delhi has rejected the accusations made by the Pakistani government and Bhuguti, who have often alleged that India supports both the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists.
Balochistan has been a site of low-level rebellion for years, with groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army asserting demands for independence from the central government.
These separatist groups typically target security forces and civilians in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Authorities note that the rebellion has been somewhat contained, yet violence persists in the region.
Just in July, a gunman ambushed two passenger buses on a highway in Balochistan before moving to Punjab, resulting in nine fatalities.
Most past attacks have been attributed to banned groups, such as the BLA.
