Quetta – A suicide bombing outside the Shahwani Stadium, located in Quetta, has claimed 15 lives and injured at least 38 others.
The assault, which the outlawed militant Islamic State group has taken credit for, took place on a Tuesday night, just after a public rally by the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) held to mark the death anniversary of Sardar Attaullah Mengal had ended.
Following the event, the Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, has pledged to punish the culprits, stating that they will no longer allow terrorists to ruin the hard-earned peace of Balochistan.
Addressing an emergency press conference at the DIG Office, Additional Chief Secretary Home Affairs, Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, confirmed that the bomb blast occurred at around 9.45 pm on Sariab Road, some 500 meters away at the exit point of the rally.
He testified that a high-security alert and 120 police presence had ensured that the suicide bomber did not succeed in accessing the main gathering.
The alleged assailant, aged below 30 years, was carrying about eight kilograms of explosives, which meant he had to blow himself up in a dim section near a graveyard, which was probably the reason why the number of victims was not as high.
Government Announces Investigation and Support for Victims
Chief Minister Bugti ordered the establishment of a high-level investigation team to determine the motive and the people who were behind the attack during a high-level meeting on Wednesday.
He highlighted the zero-tolerance approach to any failure in protecting the population, and he instructed the officials to keep the society and media updated on the situation with confirmed information to overcome fake news.
“The terrorists behind the Shahwani Stadium blast will be brought to their logical conclusion and held accountable under the law,” Bugti added as the government once again expressed its support to the families of the victims.
The chief minister also declared a compensation package, where the families of the dead would get up to Rs. 1.5 million, the injured would receive up to Rs. 0.5 million, and minor victims would receive up to Rs. 200,000.
Government air services will also be used to transfer critically injured individuals to Karachi in order to provide them with the best medical care possible.
Additional Chief Secretary Shafqaat disclosed that the district administration had granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the rally under pressure from organizers who had earlier rejected such requests due to valid security concerns. He praised a police constable who had died in the line of duty, citing his sacrifices as a single breadwinner.
Nation Condemns the Attack
President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement issued by the President’s Office, offered his deepest condolences and ordered an exhaustive investigation.
From Beijing, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was outraged by the attack as evidence of the sinister plot of the terrorists to cause havoc in Balochistan. He spoke with CM Bugti to offer condolences.
“The terrorists involved in the blast will be traced and given exemplary punishment,” the prime minister said. “Terrorists are enemies of peace and development in Balochistan.”
Iran Offered Support
The Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, also condemned the “inhumane and cowardly terrorist attack,” describing terrorism as a shared menace across the region that requires collective and determined efforts to uproot.
He expressed his grief, “I extend my heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the government and the brotherly people of Pakistan, particularly to the families who have lost their loved ones. May Allah Almighty grant eternal peace to the souls of the departed and strength and patience to the bereaved families.”
Security Measures Taken
Following the tragedy, the government has imposed Section 144 throughout Balochistan until September 15, barring the assembly of the people and processions after sundown, particularly during the build-up to Eid Miladun Nabi. There is still high alert in the province.
Irrespective of the tragedy, Shafqaat highlighted that the overall security situation has improved a lot. He quoted a sharp contrast to August of the last year, which witnessed 85 terrorist attacks and more than 100 deaths, with zero casualties this month of August.
He credited law enforcement agencies with neutralizing 50 percent of reported threats and preventing many plots. Within this month alone, Quetta had 22 threat alerts, which were all successfully dealt with.
History of Militancy in the Region
Several armed groups are active in Balochistan, threatening the security of the people.
In February 2024, the Islamic State claimed it had bombed election offices in Balochistan on the eve of parliamentary elections. The attacks killed over 20 and injured dozens.
In November last year, over 20 people were killed and dozens more injured in a suicide bombing at a Quetta railway station. Baloch Liberation Army, a militant group alleged to have carried out the attack.
In March this year, armed militants belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army hijacked a train with over 400 passengers and threatened to kill hostages until authorities freed Baloch political prisoners.
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