By Tragedy struck in Pakistan when a suicide attack claimed the lives of more than 50 people and left many others injured. The devastating incident occurred near a mosque in the southwestern province of Balochistan on a Friday, a day when people had gathered to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
The situation has prompted authorities in Balochistan to declare a state of emergency as they grapple with the aftermath of the attack. To date, no specific group has claimed responsibility for this horrifying act.
While the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday is a widely accepted practice among various Islamic sects in Pakistan and the broader Muslim world, some denominations consider it an unauthorized innovation.
In Balochistan, the suicide bomber detonated an explosive device as attendees from nearby mosques converged on a designated meeting point in Mastung, which is approximately 40 kilometres south of the provincial capital, Quetta. Eyewitnesses like 49-year-old Hazoor Bakhsh described the chaos and horror that unfolded. “My feet trembled, and I was thrown to the ground,” he recounted. “As the dust settled, I saw people scattered in all directions, some screaming while others called out for help.”
Local hospitals quickly became overwhelmed by the influx of wounded individuals, prompting provincial authorities to use social media to urgently seek blood donors.
In another related incident, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police reported intercepting two suicide bombers and a vehicle loaded with explosives. One of the bombers was “neutralized at the gate” as he attempted to enter a mosque located within a police complex in the town of Hangu. Regrettably, at least five people lost their lives in this encounter, with fears that more might be trapped under the rubble caused by the roof collapse.
Balochistan, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran, is Pakistan’s largest province and has frequently witnessed attacks by various armed groups, including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, and the Islamic State group. Tragically, earlier this month, the same district experienced an explosion that injured at least 11 people, including a prominent Muslim leader.
Pakistan’s caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, expressed his outrage on social media, stating that the attackers’ decision to target the celebration of the Prophet’s birth and the Friday prayer underscores that they have no affiliation with any religion, ideology, or moral values.
