At least seven people, including five children & a policeman, martyred in a bomb blast near a Girls High School in Mastung

MASTUNG/ISLAMABAD, Nov 01 (SABAH): At least seven people, including five children and a policeman, were martyred and 30 others injured in result of a bomb blast near the Girls High School at the Civil Hospital Chowk in Mastung, Balochistan on Friday. The injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta.

Initially, there were five dead. Later, two additional casualties were reported among the injured who succumbed to their wounds during treatment at the hospital, said DHQ Medical Superintendent Nisar Ahmad Baloch, which increased the death toll to seven.

Baloch added that 30 injured people were undergoing treatment at DHQ and Nawab Hospital in Mastung, among which most were schoolchildren.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Miandad Umrani said that a remote-controlled explosive device was planted in a motorcycle.

The ages of the deceased schoolchildren, which include girls and boys, are between 10 to 13 years old, while four policemen are among the injured.

Emergency has been declared in both hospitals, said Mastung Deputy Commissioner Mir Baaz Khan Marri.

Earlier the police reported at least 15 people injured in the attack, which completely destroyed the police vehicle. Several other vehicles, including rickshaws, present near the blast site were also damaged, they added.

Police earlier also said that all injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) nearby.

Soon after the blast, an emergency was declared across all Quetta hospitals including the Civil Hospital, BMC Hospital and Trauma Centre, said the provincial health department spokesperson, adding that all doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and other medical staff have been summoned.

The spokesperson said that nine people injured in the blast, among which the condition of three is critical, were shifted to the Trauma Center in Quetta. The injured were being treated at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned a bomb blast at a girls’ high school in Balochistan’s Mastung district, killing three children and a policeman.

In their separately issued messages, they expressed grief over the death of children and a policeman and conveyed their condolence to the bereaved families, also praying for strength for them to bear the loss. Both the acting president and prime minister reiterated the resolve for continuous action against terrorism till its elimination in toto. “The terrorists are the enemies of humanity. The whole nation stands united to support the security forces and law enforcement agencies against terrorists,” Gilani said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the authorities concerned to apprehend the perpetrators of the blast and take them to task, besides directing the best possible medical treatment of the injured. “The attack on a school is the manifestation of terrorists’ animosity to education in Balochistan. Such cowardly acts can neither undermine the nation’s morale nor that of Balochistan’s government to promote education and development. The whole nation feels proud of its policemen and soldiers for their sacrifices to safeguard the country,” the prime minister remarked.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan Bugti condemned the blast expressing grief over the loss of lives. He extended condolences to the relatives of the martyred policeman and schoolchildren.

“Terrorists have now targeted innocent children along with labourers,” said Bugti, resolving to avenge the blood of innocent citizens including children.

He added that locals among the civilian population also have to keep an eye on the terrorists. “The monster of terrorism can only be fought together.”

In his condemnation statement, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed solidarity with the families of the victims. “The perpetrators who target innocent citizens and children are enemies of humanity and peace,” said the speaker. He condemned the targeting of innocent children and civilians by terrorists for their nefarious purposes.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq praised the enduring sacrifices made by security forces and police officers in the fight against terrorism, emphasising that such shameful acts by malicious elements cannot shake the nation’s resolve in the war against terror.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the explosion and said: “No words are enough to condemn the incident of targeting innocent children.” He described the attack as an “act of brutality”, adding that “targeting children is a heinous crime that no one should tolerate”.

Mohsin Naqvi asserted that those responsible for such horrific acts should face no leniency. “The beasts who play with the lives of innocent children do not deserve any compassion,” he stated.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz condemned the Mastung blast and condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured.