Tragedy strikes the Mastung district of the restive Balochistan province as an explosion occurred during the middle of a religious procession in the southwest region of Pakistan on Friday, September 29. Unfortunately, this region is not stranger to insurgence and separatist movements.
The devastating explosion occurred during a religious procession in the Mastung district that left at least 52 dead. This was a targeted attack aimed at one man, a senior police officer in attendance.
As unverified images began to surface online showing the aftermath of this “heinous act” as described by the country’s interior ministry, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences to those affected and for forgiveness for the deceased.
A suspected suicide bomb blast during a procession to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad has left a devastating toll of 52 dead and many more critically wounded in the Mastung district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The powerful explosion occurred near a mosque on… pic.twitter.com/lNCN1ZAtmy
— The Observer Post (@TheObserverPost) September 29, 2023
Pictures and videos taken after the blast depicted corpses with severed limbs scattered about and many individuals in critical condition were taken to hospitals in Quetta, the province’s capital while others were treated nearby.
In response to this terrible tragedy, cities surrounding Balochistan have been instructed to remain on high alert as an investigation into who was responsible for this attack continues.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by territory and it has seen extensive insurgence from separatists insisting that it should be independent from its state’s monopolization of resources.
Although these voices are strong in certain areas, their claims have yet to be heard or addressed by Pakistani officials due to them being mainly ignored or dismissed when brought up.
With an event like this occurring so close by, tensions will only continue to rise between separatists and supporting parties regarding independence for Balochistan province from Pakistan state control over its resources as well as other issues faced by local citizens on a daily basis.
At this time, no one group has been identified as responsible nor claimed responsibility for this incident. This is a developing story with new details still coming in.
