At least 27 people lost their lives while over 30 others, including Deputy Chairman Senate of Pakistan Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, were injured in a roadside blast in Mastung area of Balochistan. The Pakistan Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was shifted to CMH Quetta where he was in stable condition. In a statement from the hospital, he said thanks to the Almighty, I am fine and expressed regrets on the death of his associates and others. Haideri’s driver, along with two other associates, succumbed to their injuries. The majority of those injured and killed were JUI-F party workers, rescue sources said. A Senate director staff, Iftikhar Mughal, was also killed in the attack. According to report, the bombing took place near a local seminary shortly after Friday prayers. Maulana Haideri’s convoy was targeted when he was returning from an event at Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen at Jamia Masjid Hammadia. Haideri had been invited to the seminary for an investiture ceremony. An eyewitness present at the event said the guests were leaving for a luncheon when Haideri’s convoy came under attack. The blast was very powerful, said Maulana Haideri, adding that though he is not seriously injured, he is deeply saddened by the deaths which had taken place. Levies, police and Frontier Corps personnel cordoned off the site of the attack. An emergency was declared at Civil Hospital Mastung and more doctors were called in. Quetta hospitals have also declared an emergency. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri has directed relevant officials to immediately submit a report on the incident.JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the attack on Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri adding that attack was not the first on the party. Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs terming the attack a very painful incident for the nation and particularly the JUI. He added that such incidents will not stop us in our cause. President Mamnoon Hussain has condemned the attack in a statement and expressed the state’s resolve to protect the public by completely eradicating terrorism from the country. The president prayed for the early recovery of the injured, including the deputy chairman of the Senate. He directed authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, strongly condemning the attack, expressed his concern for the well-being of Maulana Haideri. He also prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. The terrorists cannot deter the nation’s resolve against militancy through such coward attacks. Although much has been done by the governments and law enforcement agencies to curb menace of terrorism from the country but the war is still not over. The federal, provincial governments and law enforcement agencies still need to work hard to clean the country from terrorism. The terrorists still have the capacity to launch attacks on soft targets inside the country. A thorough investigation be conducted and strict action should be taken against those responsible for the negligence and those involved in the incident should be brought to justice.
