At least eight people were killed and more than 40 injured in a bomb blast on Saturday in Pakistan’s western city of Quetta, hospital officials said, the latest attack in a region that will be home to the planned route of the $46 billion China-Pakistan economic corridor.
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The troubled Balochistan province has been hit by violence for the last few years with sectarian, militant groups routinely targeting government and security installations along with security personnel.
The blast, which could be heard from quite a distance, killed as many as eight people including a Frontier Corps (FC) personnel while injuring several people.
The explosion took place near the Quetta district courts which have strict security measures implemented near a security vehicle close to Liaquat Park.
“Four members of the FC have been killed in the blast, while the remaining five are locals”, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani confirmed while speaking to The Express Tribune.
Emergency has been declared in all nearby hospitals.
The Pakistani Taliban have ramped up their attacks on security forces and civilians alike in recent weeks, prompting criticism of Islamabad’s National Action Plan against terrorism. “Terrorists can not deter our resolve to root out terrorism”.
“The TTP accepts responsibility for the attack on a Frontier Corps convoy in Quetta”, said Mohammad Khorasani, the militants’ spokesman, in a statement issued to media.
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Separately, one policeman was martyred and three were injured in a firing incident at Sariab road in Quetta on Saturday.
