QUETTA:
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat on Wednesday called for public unity in the wake of the tragic suicide blast near Shahwani Stadium, urging citizens to avoid panic, refrain from blame games, and uphold Balochistan’s longstanding message of peace.
Addressing an emergency press conference at the DIG Office, Shafqaat confirmed that the suicide attack on Sariab Road claimed 15 lives and injured 32 others.
He said that the chief minister has also announced a compensation package of Rs1.5 million for families of the deceased, Rs0.5 million for each injured individual, and Rs200,000 support for minor victims of the Shahwani Stadium Incident.
The explosion occurred approximately 500 meters from the exit point of a public rally held to mark the death anniversary of Sardar Attaullah Mengal. He said that the rally had officially concluded hours earlier, with the blast taking place at 9:45 PM in a poorly lighted area near a graveyard.
Despite a high-security alert in Quetta, Hamza said the attacker was unable to breach the main gathering due to stringent security measures, including the deployment of 120 police personnel. He added that this forced the assailant to detonate the device away from the crowd.
The remains of the bomber, believed to be under 30 years old, were recovered, and authorities estimate that around eight kilograms of explosives were used.Hamza Shafqaat revealed that the district administration had issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the rally under pressure from organizers, with the condition that the event should be conclude by 3:00 PM.
He noted that the administration had previously denied NOC requests due to credible security threats. He commended the bravery of law enforcement personnel, highlighting the sacrifice of a police constable who was the sole breadwinner for his family and embraced martyrdom while protecting others.
SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch and DIG Crimes Branch, Farhan Zahid were also present at the briefing.
