At least 42 people were killed in a suspected suicide bombing inside the
Civil Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan early this morning Monday August
8th. Over 30 people were injured in the attack
"The blast occurred after a number of lawyers and some journalists had
gathered at the hospital following the death of the president of the
Balochistan Bar Association in a separate shooting incident early this
morning," said Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Harifal
Nearly hundred mourners, mostly lawyers were entering the emergency
department of the hospital, accompanying Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi's
body, when the bomb went off, Faridullah, a journalist who was at the
scene, told Reuters.
According to senior police official Zahoor Ahmed Afridi, most of the
dead were lawyers. Several lawyers including the former president of
Balochistan Bar Association Baz Mohammad Kakar were reported injured.
There was no claim of responsibility for the blast, which struck at the
gates of the building housing the emergency ward.
Journalists present at the premises also came in the line of fire as
dozens were severely injured in the explosion. Shahzad Khan, a cameraman
associated with Aaj TV, was killed in the blast.
Police surrounded the hospital and cordoned off the area after the
blast. An emergency was declared in hospitals across Quetta and several
injured were shifted to other hospitals for treatment.
"This was a security lapse," Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti
said, assuring he was having the incident personally investigated. He
added that the hospital had not received any threats in the past.
Following the blast in Quetta, Inspector General (IG) police A.D.
Khawaja issued a high security alert across Sindh. Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif strongly condemned the blast in Quetta and expressed his deep
grief and anguish over the loss of human lives.
"No one will be allowed to disturb the peace in the province that has
been restored thanks to the countless sacrifices by the security forces,
police and the people of Balochistan," he said in a statement.
Facebook activated its safety check after the hospital blast.
More photos...
Source: Aljazeera/Dawn/Khaleej
Title : Graphic Photos: At least 42 killed in suicide bombing at a civil hospital in Pakistan
Description : At least 42 people were killed in a suspected suicide bombing inside the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan early this morning Monday Aug...
