Pakistan PM condemns deadly blast on Senate’s deputy chairman convoy

ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Xinhua) — Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday condemned the deadly attack targeted on the country’s Senate’s deputy chairman’s convoy in southwestern province of Balochistan, leaving least 25 dead and 35 others injured, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement said that Sharif wished a speedy recovery to the Senate’s deputy chairman and other wounded people. He also directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Deputy chairman of the Senate were slightly injured but in safe conditions, according to local reports.

The attack took place when Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the deputy chairman, was on way to some function and his convoy came under attack in the Mastung district the day afternoon, local media and officials said.

Dr. Sher Zaman, the Health officer of Mastung, said that the killed people included people of all ages and at least 10 among the injured victims are in critical condition.

Deputy Inspector Police Quetta, said that Haideri got slightly injured in the attack after being hit by glass of broken windows of his car.

Local Samaa News said that the senator’s convoy was targeted at the main highway shortly after it left a mosque after Friday prayers.

Most of the victims belonged to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUIF), a religious political party Haideri is associated with.

The JUIF spokesperson said that the senator and his party members were returning after attending an event at Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen seminary at Hammadia mosque.

Deputy Police Officer at Mastung Ghazanfar Ali said that Haideri’s vehicle got completely damaged and his driver and personal assistant were also killed in the attack.

He said that the senator remained safe, as he was not sitting in his own car.

Ali said that the blast seems to be carried out by a suicide bomber, however, further investigations are being made into the incident.

The injured people were shifted to Mastung Civil Hospital from where the seriously wounded victims were referred to hospitals in provincial capital of Quetta, located some 50 km away from Mastung.

The country’s President Mamnoon Hussain also condemned the attack.

A state of emergency has been declared in all state-run hospitals in Mastung and Quetta.

No group has claimed the attack yet.