1 of 2 injured in Mastung Hospital after explosion in Pakistan Photo: Mastung Hospital / Disclosure / via Portal Injured in Mastung Hospital after explosion in Pakistan Photo: Mastung Hospital / Disclosure / via Portal
A suicide bomb attack during a religious meeting at the mosque in Mastung, a district in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, killed 52 people and injured 58 this Friday (29), authorities said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Balochistan province has been the scene of attacks by Islamist militants and separatists in the past.
Muslims in Pakistan and around the world celebrate the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday with public gatherings, a date known as Mawlid anNabi. They also distribute free meals to people during the daylong celebrations.
Since last year, Pakistan has been experiencing a new phase of attacks. The conflict flared up again when a ceasefire between the government and the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization of several hardline Sunni Islamist groups, failed.
The TTP denied carrying out Friday’s attack.
2 of 2 An ambulance treats a person injured by an explosion in a suicide attack in the city of Mastung, Pakistan, September 29, 2023 Photo: Portal An ambulance treats a person injured by an explosion in a suicide attack in the city Mastung was injured, Pakistan, on September 29, 2023 Photo: Portal
In a statement, Acting Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed grief and sadness over the loss of life. He said it was a “heinous act” to target people in the Mawlid anNabi procession.
The government declared the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday a national holiday, and President Arif Alvi and incumbent Prime Minister AnwaarulhaqKakar issued separate messages calling for unity and people’s adherence to the teachings of the Prophet of Islam.
Hours later, another explosion occurred, this time in Peshawar (more than 600 km from Mastung), leaving around 30 to 40 people trapped in the rubble.
As of the last update to this report, local authorities had not announced whether there had been any deaths.