13 killed, 30 injured in Quetta blast at BNP-Mengal rally

Quetta: A blast has taken place at a Balochistan National Party (BNP) rally outside Shahwani Stadium in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, killing 13 people and injuring 30.

Civil Hospital Quetta spokesperson Dr Waseem Baig said that 13 people were killed in the blast, while 30 injured have been shifted to the hospital.

It is also stated that the injured were shifted to Quetta Civil Hospital for treatment and were provided first aid before being admitted to the trauma center.

Meanwhile, BNP Vice President Sajid Tareen, while talking to the media at the Civil Hospital, said that 13 of our workers were martyred in the blast, while several workers were also injured.

Sajid Tareen said that the blast took place in the parking lot after the rally ended. Former MPA Ahmed Nawaz and central leader Musa Baloch were also injured in the blast.

He stated that we had already feared such an unpleasant incident. The district administration had been contacted in advance for the gathering and security.

Earlier, a statement issued by the Balochistan Home Department said that rescue teams had reached the spot and the injured were being shifted to the hospital for treatment, adding that security forces had cordoned off the area and started collecting evidence.

The statement said that the government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident and appealed to the public not to listen to rumors and cooperate with the institutions.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Balochistan government said that Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, while ordering the use of air services, has said that the seriously injured in the Shahwani Stadium tragedy should be transferred to Karachi on the recommendation of doctors so that they can get timely and quality medical facilities.

He added that the Balochistan government stands with the affected families in this difficult time and all resources are being provided for the treatment of the injured.

According to the statement, the Balochistan Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to make emergency arrangements in all hospitals more effective and leave no stone unturned in providing the best medical facilities to the injured immediately.

He said that the government’s top priority is to save human lives and provide immediate relief to the injured, and negligence will not be tolerated in this regard.

Balochistan Chief Minister Bugti clarified that all the government’s resources are dedicated to saving the lives of the injured and their treatment, and all possible support will be provided to the affected families.

Condemnation

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has strongly condemned the Shahwani Stadium blast, saying that the blast is a cowardly act of the enemies of humanity.

He said that miscreants are playing with the blood of innocent citizens. The evil intentions of the terrorists will be thwarted at all costs.

Sarfaraz Bugti stated that the Balochistan government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident, and a committee has been formed for the investigation.

He added that the elements involved in the incident will be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has condemned the explosion outside the stadium near Sariab Road in Quetta, and expressed regret over the loss of precious human lives.

Mohsin Naqvi said that the terrorists and agents of sedition, India, are hatching a heinous conspiracy to create instability by targeting innocent people, and with the support of the nation, the evil intentions of the Indian-sponsored terrorists will be thwarted.

The Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain also strongly condemned the suicide attack on the Quetta rally.

In a post on the social networking website X, the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain said that the attack on political workers and scholars is the worst cowardice, expressing grief and anger over the martyrdom of political workers.

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Central Chairman Senator Allama Raja Nasir said that he condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly attack on the convoy of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, head of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and leader of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan, in Quetta.

He said that this tragedy is not only an attack on a democratic political party and its leadership, but also a direct attack on the constitutional and democratic structure of Pakistan.

It is pertinent to note that on March 29, 2025, the BNP-Mengal was on a long march from Wadh to Quetta. When the participants of the march reached near Mastung, a suicide bomber blew himself up; however, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and others remained safe.