At least 13 people have been reported to be killed and nearly 20 others injured when a suicide bombing attack at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province on Thursday, police officials said. Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media that the attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance.
Officials said at least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 others injured. At least one policeman was also killed. A senior Levies official confirmed that so far 12 bodies have been recovered from the blast site.
Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines.
Talking to media, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. “Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi,” Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. This was the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah
This was the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district.
(With PTI inputs)
