MASTUNG: A suicide bomber detonated explosives near a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally at Lak Pass in Mastung, police said on Saturday.
Providing details of the incident, police stated that the suicide blast occurred when a volunteer stopped a suspicious individual near the BNP-M protest. The suspect detonated himself during the search. Authorities said they were assessing the extent of the damage.
The incident comes amid a worsening law and order situation in the country's largest province by land area, with multiple terrorist attacks reported in recent weeks.
The attack occurred days after terrorists killed at least eight people—four labourers and four police personnel—in Kalat and Noshki districts last week.
Additionally, at least five passengers were executed two days ago after armed men intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar's Kalmat area, forcibly removing them before killing them.
In another recent attack, at least five people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, were martyred, and 35 others injured in an explosion targeting a paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway.
Before that, dozens of militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) blew up a railway track and attacked the Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 440 passengers who were subsequently taken hostage.
After a complex clearance operation, security forces neutralised 33 attackers and rescued the hostages.
Despite successfully reclaiming the train, the incident resulted in 26 passengers being martyred, including 18 security personnel from the Pakistan Army and FC, three officials from Pakistan Railways and other departments, and five civilians. Additionally, three FC personnel were martyred in an attack on a security checkpoint before the train ambush.
The province is also grappling with socio-political unrest following the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch. She is currently held at Quetta District Jail under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance for her alleged involvement in a violent attack on Civil Hospital and the forcible removal of attackers' bodies from the Jaffar Express train bombing.
The BYC leaders face multiple charges, including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, incitement to violence and rebellion, creating disorder, promoting racial hatred, and damaging property.
Saturday’s blast appeared to target the BNP-M protest led by former lawmaker Akhtar Mengal, who is heading a long march against the crackdown on BYC activists.
The party stated that their march had been stopped from proceeding to Quetta, adding that Mengal would announce their next course of action at a press conference later in the day. Until then, the sit-in at Lak Pass would continue until their demands were met.
Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that BNP-M chief Mengal, along with the party’s leadership and protest participants, remained unharmed in the attack.
According to the spokesperson, the suspected suicide bomber detonated himself near the protest site.
He added that the Balochistan government had been in contact with BNP leadership since the previous night to ensure their safety. Urging the party to remain peaceful, he warned that hostile elements might attempt to exploit the situation.
A BNP-M delegation had met with the administration the previous night, while a government delegation also agreed to meet Mengal today. Authorities urged Mengal and his party members to cooperate with the government, emphasising that dialogue was key to improving the situation.
The spokesperson further stated that the sit-in near Lak Pass had been halted the previous day and that communication had taken place between the government and Mengal’s party in the area. Government representatives remain in contact with Mengal and his leadership today as well.
In a meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, it was decided to effectively raise the issue of terrorism with the Afghan government through the foreign ministry.
Addressing the meeting, Naqvi said that all possible assistance would be provided to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in light of the challenges they face.
He further revealed that following its reorganisation, the Frontier Constabulary is being transformed into the National Reserve Police.
The minister emphasised that the prime minister, the army chief, and all key stakeholders are united in their approach to tackling terrorism. He assured that no decisions would be made without consulting the provinces.
The meeting was informed that approval had been granted for the establishment of National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres, with work underway for their implementation in various provinces.
Home secretaries and police chiefs from all provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, attended the meeting via video link.