A deadly suicide bombing ripped through Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, on Sunday, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 36 during a crowded memorial gathering, officials confirmed.
The blast struck near Shaheed Shuhada Stadium in the Shahwani area, where hundreds had assembled to mark the death anniversary of veteran Baloch leader Attaullah Mengal. Eyewitnesses said the attacker detonated explosives close to the entrance, triggering chaos and panic.
Prominent political figures—including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, and Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party—were in attendance but escaped unharmed.
Security forces swiftly cordoned off the site, while rescue teams rushed victims to Civil Hospital Quetta. Authorities declared a state of emergency as doctors warned that several of the wounded remained in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could climb.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, such assaults in Balochistan are frequently attributed to separatist movements or extremist outfits operating in the province.
Balochistan—Pakistan’s largest but least developed region—has long been plagued by insurgency, sectarian strife, and political unrest. The Quetta blast underscores the province’s fragile security environment, with analysts urging the government to tighten counterterrorism measures and ensure greater protection for public and political gatherings.
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