On Friday, a suicide bombing in Pakistan claimed the lives of 52 people and left more than 50 individuals injured. The attack occurred during a religious gathering commemorating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in a volatile province adjacent to Afghanistan, as confirmed by health officials and police.
Amid a recent surge in attacks by militant groups in Pakistan, no organization has claimed responsibility for the blasts. These incidents are increasing the challenges for security forces in the lead-up to the national elections scheduled for January next year.
Shortly after a suicide blast in Balochistan province, tragedy struck again in Pakistan as another explosion devastated a mosque in the neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to officials, this second blast claimed the lives of at least two individuals.
Local reports from Geo News indicated that the mosque’s roof collapsed during the incident, leaving around 30 to 40 individuals trapped beneath the rubble.
Pakistan has experienced a resurgence of Islamist militant attacks following the breakdown of a ceasefire between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.
The TTP, an umbrella organization comprising hardline Sunni Islamist groups, has been responsible for some of the most deadly attacks within Pakistan since its establishment in 2007. Notably, the TTP denied involvement in Friday’s recent attack in Balochistan.
The devastating Balochistan blast left 58 individuals wounded, as reported by Abdul Rasheed, a district health official. Concerns remain high as many injured are in critical condition, suggesting that the casualty count might still increase.
“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police,” revealed Munir Ahmed, the deputy inspector general of police, Reuters reported.
This follows a grim pattern of violence, with a suicide bombing in July claiming the lives of over 40 individuals during a gathering of a religious political party in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.