A bomb blast targetomg a police van guarding polio vaccinators near a girls' school in Mastung city of Balochistan claimed lives of eight people, including five schoolchildren, one police official and a shopkeeper on Friday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The bomb targeted police officers as they were travelling in a van to guard medical workers participating in a nationwide vaccine campaign, the police said.
At least 22 people including schoolchildren and police personnel were also injured in the explosion. All the injured people have been shifted to the hospital while 13 seriously wounded were shifted to Quetta Trauma Centre where one of them succumbed to his injuries later..
Initial reports indicated the blast occurred at Civil Hospital Chowk, close to the girls' school..
Mastung District Police Officer (DPO) Miandad Umrani told newsmen that the blast occurred near a police van at the Civil Hospital Chowk. According to the DPO, explosive material was placed in a motorcycle and was detonated via remote control.
The deceased children were aged between five and 10 years, DPO Umrani further said.
The DPO said that a police van and several auto-rickshaws were damaged as a result of the bomb.
"Seven individuals: one police officer, five children and one shopkeeper" were those killed in the attack at the city's main market, senior officer Abdul Fatah told AFP.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic and vaccination teams are frequently targeted by militants waging a campaign against security forces.
Acting president, PM resolve to root out terrorism
Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned the bomb blast at a girls’ high school in Mastung district, killing five children, a policeman and a passerby.
In their separately issued messages, they expressed grief over the death of children and a policeman and conveyed their condolence to the bereaved families, also praying for strength for them to bear the loss.
Both the acting president and prime minister reiterated the resolve for continuous action against terrorism till its elimination in toto.
“The terrorists are the enemies of humanity. The whole nation stands united to support the security forces and law enforcement agencies against terrorists,” Gilani said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz instructed the authorities concerned to apprehend the perpetrators of the blast and take them to task, besides directing the best possible medical treatment of the injured.
“The attack on a school is the manifestation of terrorists’ animosity to education in Balochistan. Such cowardly acts can neither undermine the nation’s morale nor that of Balochistan’s government to promote education and development. The whole nation feels proud of its policemen and soldiers for their sacrifices to safeguard the country,” the prime minister remarked.
Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemns blast
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday strongly condemned an explosion near Civil Hospital Chowk in Mastung, which claimed the lives of five children, a passerby and a police officer.
In a statement, he expressed his deep sorrow over the death of children and a police officer and shared his heartfelt condolences, standing in solidarity with the bereaved families.
He denounced the incident, saying, “No words are enough to condemn the incident of targeting innocent children.”
He described the attack as an “act of brutality,” adding that “targeting children is a heinous crime that no one should tolerate.”
The Interior Minister made it clear that those responsible for such horrific acts should face no leniency. “The beasts who play with the lives of innocent children do not deserve any compassion,” he stated.
In a message of support, Minister Naqvi assured the families of the martyrs that the government stands with them in this painful time.
He also extended prayers for the swift recovery of the injured, emphasizing the government’s commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Reporter: Agha Qadir Shah