LAHORE: As many as 25 people were killed while another 42 including Senate’s Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul GhafoorHaideri were wounded when the convoy has hit by a roadside bomb on Friday in Mastung district of Balochistan province, the monitoring desk has learned.
According to details, the explosion targeting Haideri’s convoy took place outside a local seminary shortly after the Friday prayers.
Haideri who belongs to the JamiatUleme-e-Islam FazlurRehman (JUI-F) party later addressed the media and said he had sustained minor injuries but was otherwise fine.
Among those killed is also a Senate staff identified as Iftikhar Mughal, Haideri’s driver and two other associates.
The police are not certain whether the attack was a result of a planted device or suicide bombing but say it is likely the latter.
Haideri was rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta where he received the initial treatment, following which, the Balochistan government spokesman Anwar ulHaqKakar said he is safe.
Those who received minor injuries are being treated at the Civil Hospital Mastung while those with serious condition are being transported to the provincial capital for treatment, the rescue officials said.
The Levies, police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel later cordoned off the area to carry out a search operation.
JUI-F chief FazlurRehman was also present during the presser and said that he’s been subjected to similar attacks in the past, adding that his party wants to send a message of peace to the world. He said the attackers cannot beat “our commitment to our values.”
