Two separate suicide attacks rocked Pakistan earlier on Friday leaving at least 50 people dead and scores of others injured. The attack occurred during a procession marking the birthday of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed near Madina Masjid in the Southwestern Balochistan province in Pakistan, said officials. According to other official reports, a separate incident occurred in the Northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the Friday prayers at a mosque near Peshaway City.
Balochistan officials have declared a state of emergency after the blast that no one has claimed responsibility of yet.
“The explosion was a suicide blast and a senior police officer was killed while trying to stop the attacker,” said Balochistan’s police chief Abdul Khaliq Sheikh.
“My feet trembled and I was thrown to the ground,” said 49yr old Hazoor Bakhsh in media reports.
“The very fact that the terrorists chose to target the celebration of the birth of the prophet and the Friday prayer proved that they have nothing to do with any religion, ideology and morality,” said Murtaza Solangi, Pakistan’s caretaker Information Minister on X formerly Twitter.
Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is celebrated on the 12th day of the third month in the Islamic calendar in Pakistan.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province and borders Iran and Afghanistan. Armed terror fighters including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban, and the Islamic State group frequently attack the province.
“Such an attack is against our policies,” said TTP while denying their involvement in Friday’s attack. The group also “vehemently condemned” the attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that “mosques, schools, and public gatherings are not part of our targets”.
A separate blast occurred during the Friday prayers at a mosque near Peshaway City in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least four people were reportedly killed and 11 injured. The explosion lead to the roof of the mosque collapsing, but it was not immediately clear how many people remain trapped inside.
Edited by Virginia Van Zandt and Newsdesk Manager
