7 dead, including 5 students, in Mastung school blast

An explosion targeting a police vehicle in Balochistan's Mastung district Friday claimed the lives of at least five schoolchildren, one policeman and a passer-by near the Girls High School at the Civil Hospital Chowk, police told Geo News on Friday.

According to the Nisar Ahmad Baloch, the medical superintendent at the District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ), the two additional casualties reported later were among the injured who succumbed to their wounds during treatment at the hospital — increasing the number of casualties to seven.

At least 30 among the injured were undergoing treatment at DHQ and Nawab Hospital in Mastung, among which most were schoolchildren, said Baloch.

The Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Miandad Umrani earlier said that a remote-controlled explosive device was planted in a motorcycle.

The ages of the deceased schoolchildren, which include girls and boys, were between 10 to 13 years old, while four policemen were among the injured.

Emergency was declared in both hospitals, said Mastung Deputy Commissioner Mir Baaz Khan Marri.

Earlier the police reported at least 15 people injured in the attack, which completely destroyed the police vehicle.

Several other vehicles, including rickshaws, present near the blast site were also damaged, they added.

Police earlier also said that all injured were shifted to the DHQ nearby.

Soon after the blast, an emergency was declared across all Quetta hospitals including the Civil Hospital, BMC Hospital and Trauma Centre, said the provincial health department spokesperson, adding that all doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and other medical staff were summoned.

The spokesperson said that nine people injured in the blast, among which the condition of three is critical, were shifted to the Trauma Center in Quetta. The injured were being treated at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the blast expressing grief over the loss of lives. He extended condolences to the relatives of the martyred policeman and schoolchildren.

"Terrorists have now targeted innocent children along with labourers,” said Bugti, resolving to avenge the blood of innocent citizens including children.

He added that locals among the civilian population also have to keep an eye on the terrorists. "The monster of terrorism can only be fought together."

Acting President and Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani also condemned the incident and expressed deep grief over the loss of innocent lives.

"Terrorist elements are an enemy to humanity. The nation stands strong beside the security forces and law enforcement agencies against terrorism," he said.

In his condemnation statement, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

"The perpetrators who target innocent citizens and children are enemies of humanity and peace," said the speaker.

He condemned the targeting of innocent children and civilians by terrorists for their nefarious purposes.

Sadiq praised the enduring sacrifices made by security forces and police officers in the fight against terrorism, emphasising that such shameful acts by malicious elements cannot shake the nation’s resolve in the war against terror.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the explosion and said: “No words are enough to condemn the incident of targeting innocent children.”

He described the attack as an "act of brutality", adding that "targeting children is a heinous crime that no one should tolerate".

Naqvi asserted that those responsible for such horrific acts should face no leniency. "The beasts who play with the lives of innocent children do not deserve any compassion," he stated.

The state of law and order in Pakistan, particularly in restive provinces Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has remained impacted by terrorist activities with several innocent lives of civilians and security personnel including police and military soldiers, lost to the menace.

Today's blast in the country's southwestern province comes days after five people were killed and two were injured after unknown gunmen opened fire on locals at the site of a dam in Panjgur.

Balochistan remains vulnerable to terror activities alongside KP, especially in the past recent months with both provinces accounting for 97% of the total 722 fatalities in the first three quarters of the ongoing year, as per a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).