President Khuzdar Press Club Mohammad Siddiq Mengal, 2 others killed after vehicle hit with remote-controlled blast

KHUZDAR/ISLAMABAD, May 03 (SABAH): Maulana Mohammad Siddiq Mengal, President of the Khuzdar Press Club, was killed along with two others on Friday after a remote-controlled bomb targeted his vehicle in Khuzdar.

At least eight people were also injured as a result of the deadly explosion.

Two injured individuals in the blast later succumbed to their injuries with the death toll rising to three, said the station house officer.

The killed passers-by were seriously injured in the remote-controlled blast and were brought to the hospital, while the other eight injured in the blast are undergoing treatment in different hospitals, police said.

According to the police, the remote-controlled blast was carried out on the Sultan Ibrahim Khan Road on the National Highway.

The station house officer said that the journalist’s vehicle was the target of the blast and was hit when he was going to university from his home.

This is not the first time Mengal has been targeted by attackers. Police said that the journalist — who was associated with a local newspaper — escaped an assassination attempt a few months ago.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau strongly condemned the Khuzdar blast and directed the relevant authorities to present a report.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of President Khuzdar Press Club Maulana Muhammad Siddique Mengal in a blast.

In a statement issued on Friday, he prayed forgiveness for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family. The Prime Minister also prayed early recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Advocate also expressed grief over the death of Muhammad Siddique Mengal.

In a separate statement, he said the deceased was a competent journalist and was a significant name in the field of journalism in Balochsitan. He also expressed sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Terming Muhammad Siddique Mengal’s martyrdom as a big loss to the journalist community, the Minister expressed government’s commitment to eliminate terrorism. He said the culprits responsible for the blast will be brought to justice.