A devastating explosion has brought tragedy to Pakistan, claiming the lives of at least 50 individuals and leaving over 50 more wounded, according to reports from local police shared with the BBC. The horrifying incident unfolded in close proximity to a mosque located in the southwestern province of Balochistan. This tragic event occurred as people had gathered to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
In response to this catastrophe, officials in Balochistan have declared a state of emergency, highlighting the severity of the situation. Currently, no group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack.
Simultaneously, another explosion rocked a mosque near Peshawar City in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Details regarding the precise number of casualties at the mosque in Hangu, near Peshawar, remain uncertain. Authorities have expressed deep concerns as there may be individuals trapped beneath the debris due to the collapse of the mosque’s roof. It is noteworthy that this mosque is part of a police complex, as reported by local police to the BBC.
Images captured at the scene in Mastung, located in the Balochistan region, depict emergency responders and local residents working tirelessly to rescue and aid the injured.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, condemned the blast as a “very heinous act,” reflecting the gravity of the incident.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran and has experienced recurrent attacks by various armed groups, including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, and the Islamic State group. However, the TTP has distanced itself from any involvement in the recent Mastung blast, emphasizing in a statement that such an attack goes against its principles and policies.
This tragic incident follows a similar explosion earlier this month in the same district, where at least eleven individuals, including a prominent Muslim leader, were injured. Additionally, in July, a suicide bombing during a gathering of a religious political party in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province resulted in the loss of more than 40 lives.
