Two cops among four martyred in Quetta blast

QUETTA: An explosion Monday near a police vehicle in the city's Shahrah-e-Iqbal left four — two policemen and two civilians — martyred.

At least 15 people have also been injured in the blast which has damaged many vehicles and motorcycles in the vicinity.

Bodies of all the deceased have been shifted to the Civil Hospital, hospital administration said. Those killed in the blast also include a minor girl.

Civil Defence Director Rafu Mandokhail said that three to four kilos of explosives were used in the blast, while the explosive material was installed in a motorcycle.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast in Balochistan’s capital city with prayers for the martyrs and offered condolences to their families.

The premier has also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the explosion directing relevant authorities to ensure all possible medical aid for them.

He also sought a report from the authorities concerned on the terror attack sharing the state’s resolve to crush the ill intentions of terrorists.

For the past few months, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks with even the country's bigger urban centres such as Karachi and Peshawar under the radar of militants targeting security forces with the aim to deteriorate peace.

The National Security Committee (NSC) — in a meeting held last week — also decided to kick start an all-out comprehensive operation against militant outfits to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.

The meeting was held in continuation with the NSC meeting after the terrorist attack on January 2, 2023, in Peshawar Police Lines, which claimed the lives of more than 80 people, mainly law enforcers.

Meanwhile, security forces have been conducting operations against terrorists with the determination to eliminate terrorism from the country and resolve to strengthen the sacrifices of its soldiers.

The Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), a think tank in Islamabad, stated that the number of terrorist attacks in the country have increased by 27% last year compared to 2021. At least 419 people were killed, while 734 were injured in 262 terrorist attacks last year.