At least 10 persons, including two policemen and a levies cop, were martyred and 19 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Shahra-e-Adalat near Quetta Press Club Monday evening.

The blast damaged a number of vehicles parked nearby while windowpanes of buildings in the vicinity were also shattered due to impact of the blast.

Quetta City Police Chief DIG Abur Razza Cheema confirmed that it was a suicide blast. The suicide bomber tried to enter a rally of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat from Shari Iqbal but the policemen stopped him, upon which the bomber blew himself up.

He said that the ASWJ activists were rallying to pay tribute to the first caliph of Islam when the bomber blew himself up there.

Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Zia Lango said the blast happened near the press club and more details about the incident are being collected. Police and rescue teams have arrived at the blast site and rescue activities are underway. Police have sealed the blast and preliminary evidence is being collected, but nothing can be said about the nature of the blast, the minister said.

The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Eyewitnesses said that the assailant tried to penetrate the rally but couldn't manage to reach the protestors as he was resisted at hands of Security forces.

No group has claimed the responsibility for the blast.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Relief efforts are being carried out in the area. The nature and impact of the blast is being ascertained by the police.

Emergency has been imposed in Quetta's civil hospital, while senior doctors have been called in.

PM IMRAN EXPRESSES GRIEF OVER QUETTA BLAST
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday expressed his grief at the loss of lives in the Quetta blast. The premier directed authorities to provide the injured with the best medical treatment.

The prime minister condemned the bomb blast in the strongest words.

CONDEMNATION

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N President Shehbaz condemned the blast and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the suicide blast.

They termed the attack a cowardice attempt by the enemies of a prosperous and developed Balochistan and Pakistan. But all such elements should mind that they could not stop the journey on the path to progress and prosperity. They also prayed for eternal peace and rest of departed souls and fortitude to their heirs to bear this loss.

Mian Shehbaz Sharif said that the government should realize its responsibility regarding implementation of the National Action Plan to check such subversive activities. He also prayed for early recovery of the injured persons.