“What kind of weak and despicable people are they, targeting a hospital where there are children and patients?” Most of the victims were lawyers who had gathered to mourn a prominent local lawyer was had been killed by gunmen earlier on Monday.
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Lawyers’ groups conducted protest rallies in several cities. The claim could not be independently verified. Militants in Pakistan have repeatedly staged secondary attacks to target mourners following a first attack, or people rushing to the scene.
Numerous victims were clad in the black suits and ties traditionally worn by Pakistani lawyers.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward, on the hospital grounds.
“No crater found at the site of the attack and it appears the bomber had the explosives strapped to his chest”, a police officer said.
The attack, which stunned the judicial community, also underscored concerns that militants in Pakistan are still capable of striking in the heart of the country’s cities and towns – despite government claims of dismantling various terror networks.
“The condition of the injured was very critical and they were given medical treatment but they could not survived”, doctors said.
When he looked up, Rehman said he saw bodies of the dead and the wounding crying out for help.
The lawyers were at the unit because earlier in the day armed men, who are still unidentified, had shot Bilal Anwar Kasi, reports said.
At least seventy people were killed in the blast and more than 100 others injured. This news story is related to Latest/141280-Quetta-hospital-blast-death-toll-reaches-74/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.
The condition of about 20 of those injured is said to be serious.
The motive behind bombing is unclear, but several lawyers were targeted and killed during attack in Quetta, the regional capital of Baluchistan, which has a history of militant and nationalist violence. Emergency has been declared at all hospitals of the city.
More than 70 people died in the attack on Monday.
Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Baluchistan, said it seemed to be a suicide attack but police are still investigating.
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Pakistan’s prime minister denounced the hospital attack. Mr Nawaz asked the local authorities to maintain utmost vigilance and beef up security in Quetta.
