Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the bombing in Mastung district on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of eight people, including five children, and injured 29 others. Bugti lamented that terrorists had now begun to target poor laborers as well as innocent children.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to state broadcaster PTV News, claimed that the explosion took place at a “girls’ high school,” while another PTV News post stated that the incident took place “near Girls’ High School Chowk.”
However, according to Kalat Division Commissioner Naeem Bazai, the incident occurred around 8:35 a.m. near the Mastung Civil Hospital, which can be found on Google Maps just a few meters away.
At first, Bazai stated that the blast had injured 17 people and killed seven, including five schoolchildren.
“One person admitted to the trauma center has also passed away, while reports from different hospitals suggest that a total of 29 people sustained injuries in the blast,” states Dr. Wasim Baig, a spokesperson for the provincial health department.
Bazai added that an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a motorcycle and detonated close to a police mobile appeared to have been used in the explosion.
According to Bazai, the hospitals were under the supervision of the deputy and assistant commissioners. He emphasized that the area has been cordoned off by the police to stop any more incidents.
Miandad Umrani, the Mastung District Police Officer (DPO), previously informed Dawn.com that four police officers were among the injured.
Additionally, he stated that the deceased children ranged in age from five to ten. According to the DPO, the explosion caused damage to several auto-rickshaws and a police van.
Police officers and other individuals were seen huddled near a charred police van in footage from the scene of the incident.
