At least 26 people were killed and over 60 others injured when a suicide bomber belonging to banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) detonated himself among passengers getting ready to board a train at the Quetta Railway Station on Saturday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to Edhi sources, people including women and children were gathered at a platform as Jaffar Express was about to depart the Quetta Railway Station when the BLA suicide bomber struck.
There was chaos at the platform as a heavy contingent of police and FC rushed to the railway station and cordoned it off.
The injured were shifted to CMH and Civil Hospital where an emergency was declared to deal with the growing number of wounded patients.
An AFP journalist saw pools of blood and ripped backpacks at the scene, where a large metal sheet protecting passengers from the elements had been blown off.
A spokesperson for a local hospital said 46 people wounded in the blast had been brought to the facility, along with multiple dead.
Despite frequent attacks in Balochistan the toll of Saturday's blast was particularly high for the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
Jaffar Express was scheduled to travel from Quetta to Peshawar. The suicide explosion happened as passengers waited on a platform at around 8:45 am in Quetta. As many as 24 passengers died on the spot while two later succumbed to their injuries in the hospitals.
The Quetta commissioner, while speaking to reporters, confirmed that it was a suicide bomb blast. Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqat said security forces were the target of the suicide bombing. He appealed the public to donate blood for the injured who were under treatment in the hospitals.
A Railways DSP said they were analyzing the CCTV footage at the police station and also from the areas around the railway station.
The train station explosion hit near the ticket counter at around 8:45 am (0345 GMT) and was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the area's main separatist groups.
The attack "was carried out on a Pakistan Army unit at Quetta Railway Station... after completing a course at the Infantry School," the BLA said in a statement.
Firefighters, rescuers and passengers were working through abandoned luggage on the platform, guarded by heavily armed members of the security forces.
Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch told newsmen that the incident “seems to be a suicide blast”. He further said that “around 100 people” were present at the site.
Muhammed Omar, one of the injured, said he went to the station to get a train home to his village. "But just as we arrived, there was the explosion and I found myself wounded and in hospital," he told AFP.
At the hospital, Muhammad Irfan had to identify two of his relatives killed in the bombing. "As we woke up we found out there was an explosion," he said.
"Then we discovered that my uncle and another relative had gone to have tea at the station."
A man reacts after learning death of his relative at a Quetta hospital.–AFP
The banned militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind said that initially the blast looks like a suicide bombing. He said that all the injured persons were shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Civil Hospital where six injured persons were in serious condition.
Shahid Rind, in a statement, said an ‘emergency’ has been imposed in hospitals and the “injured were being provided with medical aid”.
Militants have in the past targeted energy projects with foreign financing -- most notably from China -- accusing outsiders of exploiting the region while excluding residents from the profits.
One of the militant groups -- the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) -- frequently claims deadly attacks against security forces or Pakistanis from other provinces, notably Punjabis.
In August, the BLA claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks by dozens of assailants who killed at least 39 people, one of the highest tolls to hit the region.
Train operation fully restored in Quetta
The train operation which came to a halt after suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station was fully by Saturday noon.
According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Railways, the Jaffar Express and Chaman Passenger trains departed from Quetta towards their respective destinations.
The Bolan Express has also departed for Karachi.
Acting President, PM strongly condemn Quetta blast
Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned the blast at Quetta Railway Station.
The acting president and prime minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude.
The acting president expressed his deep grief over loss of precious lives, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.
He said that terrorists were the enemies of humanity who targeted innocent people and reiterated the resolve of taking all possible measures to efface terrorism.
The prime minister reiterated that terrorists inflicting harm on the lives and properties of innocent people would have to pay the heavy price, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The government and security forces were fully active to eliminate terrorism, he added.
The prime minister sought an inquiry report from Balochistan government over the incident.
The acting president and the prime minister also directed for provision of treatment to injured on property basis.
Mohsin Naqvi calls for unity against terrorism
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly condemned the blast that occurred near Quetta Railway Station on Saturday, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.
In a statement, Naqvi extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. Naqvi emphasized that the terrorists responsible for targeting innocent people are undeserving of any leniency, reiterating the government’s commitment to bringing them to justice.
Balochistan CM condemns blast
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the bomb blast at Quetta Railway Station on Saturday morning.
CM Mir Sarfaraz Bugti immediately contacted local administration and directed to submit complete report of the bomb blast. He said that these terrorists now started targeting innocent people, women and children to spread harassment among common people but they will never succeed in their nefarious designs.
He said that terrorists who targeted innocent people will not be spared and they are worst then animals.
He said that an exemplary punishment will be awarded to terrorists who committed this heinous crime.
The chief minister said that lot of terrorists already arrested who killed innocent people and operation against these people will continue till the entire elimination of terrorism from our society.
Reporters Essa Tareen and Awais Kiyani