QUETTA: At least 14 people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were killed and several others injured in a blast near a railway track close to Chaman Phatak in Quetta on Sunday, according to Balochistan government officials.
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Several women and children were also among the injured and were shifted to hospitals for medical treatment. Authorities declared an emergency in government hospitals across Quetta, with medical staff placed on high alert to handle the situation.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the attack targeted unarmed civilians, describing the incident as an act of desperation by militant elements. Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and launched an investigation, while evidence collection remains underway.
Railway officials said the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was halted at Quetta Railway Station as a precautionary measure following the explosion. Initial reports also indicated that the blast caused damage to railway infrastructure, including the derailment of an engine and three train coaches.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later arrived in Quetta and co-chaired a security meeting with Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, where officials reviewed preliminary findings of the investigation.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism and expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
