At least 52 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Friday in a suicide attack on a religious gathering to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, health officials and police said.
The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Pakistan's western Balochistan province, said government administrator Atta Ullah. Dozens of injured people were taken to nearby hospitals and some were in critical condition, he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, which comes amid a surge in attacks claimed by militant groups in the west of the country, raising the stakes for security forces ahead of national elections scheduled for January next year.
"The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police," said Deputy Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmed, adding that the blast took place near a mosque where people were gathering for a procession to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, which is a public holiday.
Friday's bombing came days after authorities asked police to remain on maximum alert as militants could target rallies making the birthday of Islam's prophet.
'Heinous act'
In a statement, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the bombing and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of lives. He said it was a "heinous act" to target people at the Mawlid an-Nabi procession.
The government had declared a national holiday for the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed, and President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul-haq-Kakar in separate massages had called for unity and for people to adhere to the teachings of Islam's prophet.
The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, quickly distanced themselves from the attack it. The Pakistani The TTP is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.
Previous deadly attacks in Balochistan and elsewhere have been claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. The gas-rich southwestern Balochistan province at the border of Afghanistan and Iran has been the site of a low-level insurgency by Baloch nationalists for more than two decades. Baloch nationalists initially wanted a share of provincial resources, but they later launched an insurgency calling for independence.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and Reuters)
