QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) – Pakistani lawyers on Tuesday mourned colleagues slain in a shocking suicide bombing the previous day at a hospital in the southwestern city of Quetta that killed 70 people, mostly lawyers.
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The blast took place following a number of lawyers and some journalists amassed at the hospital after the death of Bilal Anwar Kasi, the president of the Balochistan Bar Association.
The head of Pakistan’s army has ordered extra security operations across the country following Monday’s deadly suicide bomb attack at a hospital in Quetta.
Kasi was shot and killed early on Monday morning while on his way to the main court complex in Quetta, Geo reported.
However, Mr. Kasi was the president of the Balochistan Bar Association; his predecessor on the post, Baz Muhammad Kakar was also killed by the blast. “What kind of weak and despicable people are they, targeting a hospital where there are children and patients?”
A journalist holds a poster bearing an image of a news cameraman killed in a suicide bombing during a rally to pay tribute to Quetta victims.
But hours later a Taliban faction also claimed responsibility, saying the attack was to avenge an ongoing offensive by Pakistan’s military against Islamist militants.
“Our hearts go out to the families and other loved ones of more than 60 killed and we wish a speedy recovery to the dozens more injured”.
Analysts believe the attack is aimed at further destabilising Balochistan province, Pakistan’s poorest.
A contingent of Frontier Corps and police arrived and cordoned off the hospital following the blast. The twin attacks killed at least 70 people, a lot of them lawyers, authorities said.
Television footage showed scenes of chaos, with panicked people fleeing through the debris as smoke filled the hospital corridors. “We remain resolute in joining with the people of Pakistan in confronting terrorism in Pakistan and across the region”, it said in a statement. However, there was also a claim of responsibility from the “Islamic State” (IS).
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew to Quetta after the attack, and said “all state security institutions must respond with full might to decimate these terrorists”.
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Kasi had been a vocal opponent of attacks against lawyers in the city, and had announced a two-day suspension of court sessions in protests at recent killings. The Quetta Shura, a group of leaders of the Afghan Taliban, is believed to be based in the city.
