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ISLAMABAD — A minimum of 43 folks have been killed and dozens injured in a blast concentrating on a Pakistani procession to mark the birthday of prophet Muhammad on Friday, native police mentioned in an announcement, as authorities cautioned that the demise toll was more likely to rise.
The assault hit a rally within the district of Mastung within the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan. Jan Achakzai, info minister of the provincial authorities, mentioned the bombing amounted to one of many worst assaults in latest reminiscence within the province, which is repeatedly struck by smaller blasts and focused killings.
In a separate incident that happened across the similar time on Friday, a blast hit a mosque far-off in northwestern Pakistan’s Hangu district, killing no less than 5 folks, the Rescue 1122 group mentioned. It was unknown whether or not the 2 blasts have been linked.
Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, the provincial police chief of Baluchistan, mentioned no less than one suicide attacker was suspected to be behind the blast in Mastung. A police officer who tried to stop the assault was among the many victims, the chief mentioned in an announcement.
Sarfraz Bugti, the interim inside minister, condemned the “heinous assault” and vowed to “use all assets for rescue and aid operations.”
No group instantly claimed duty for the assaults and the Pakistani Taliban, which operates independently from the Afghan Taliban, denied that it was concerned.
Pakistani officers have voiced mounting issues over Pakistani Taliban assaults in latest months, which have primarily focused police or navy. Chatting with native media shops, a hospital official close to the blast confirmed that no less than one police officer was among the many victims on Friday.
There are additionally issues in Pakistan over different teams which have staged latest assaults, together with the regional Islamic State department and Baluchistan separatist teams.
Whereas broadly celebrated all through Muslim world, significantly in Pakistan, occasions such because the prophet’s birthday are seen as heretical by the Islamic State and different extremist Sunni Muslim teams.
Nawaz Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan.