QUETTA: A blast occurred in Mastung, Balochistan on Thursday, injuring Hafiz Hamdullah, a prominent leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F). According to initial reports, the explosion took place in the vicinity of a vehicle, causing injuries to both Hamdullah and several others. In response, the police swiftly arrived at the scene and secured the area to investigate the incident. Mustang Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq Sasoli confirmed that several individuals were harmed in the Mastung blast, with three, including Hafiz Hamdullah, being transferred to a hospital in Quetta.
It was reported that Hamdullah received initial medical assistance in Mastung before being moved to the provincial capital for further treatment. Fortunately, his condition was reported as stable and no longer critical, as indicated by an official statement.
According to JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri Hamdullah had sustained injuries. However, he said that the injuries were not life-threatening. Ghauri also mentioned that Hamdullah, along with his security personnel and two party colleagues, was traveling from Quetta to Kalat when the attack occurred. The exact nature of the explosion remained unclear.
A spokesperson from the health department reported that the 11 injured individuals were transferred to Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung, with one of them in critical condition. Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Mustang confirmed that a total of 11 people, including Hamdullah, were injured in the blast. The authorities were in the process of determining the cause and details of the Mastung explosion.
In the wake of the incident, several condemnations poured in from political figures and leaders including Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and others. Balochistan’s caretaker Home Minister, Capt (retd) Muhammad Zubair Jamali, strongly denounced the blast and called for a comprehensive report on the incident. Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), expressed his condemnation and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured, emphasizing the need to bring the terrorists and their collaborators to justice.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also condemned the explosion and offered his prayers for the speedy recovery of Hafiz Hamdullah and the other victims. He called for the apprehension of those responsible for the Mastung blast. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori suggested that the blast was part of a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the law and order situation in Pakistan.
