At least 14 martyred in Quetta railway track blast: Balochistan govt

Quetta (Web Desk): At least 14 people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were martyred and several others injured in a blast near a railway track close to Chaman Phatak in Quetta on Sunday, according to the Balochistan government spokesperson.

Government spokesperson Shahid Rind said women and children were also among the injured and were shifted to hospitals for treatment.

He said the attack targeted innocent civilians and described assaults on public places as a sign of desperation by terrorist groups.

Following the explosion, security forces sealed off the area while investigators and forensic teams began collecting evidence from the site.

Authorities said investigations into the incident are ongoing.

An emergency was declared in government hospitals across Quetta, with doctors and medical staff called in to deal with the influx of injured victims.

Railway officials said the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was halted at Quetta Railway Station as a precaution after the blast.

Home Minister spokesperson Babar Yousafzai said all concerned institutions had been placed on high alert in the wake of the incident.

He also appealed to the public to avoid gathering near the blast site so rescue and emergency teams could carry out their operations smoothly.

Later, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Quetta and co-chaired a high-level meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, according to the interior ministry.

During the meeting, the Balochistan police chief briefed participants on the initial findings of the investigation.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a heinous act of terrorism aimed at destabilising Pakistan and undermining its efforts for global peace.

In his statement, the president said anti-Pakistan elements were attempting to sabotage initiatives linked to humanitarian causes, peace and development.

He vowed that Pakistan would defeat terrorists along with their facilitators, financiers and those providing them shelter.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said such cowardly attacks could not shake the resolve of the Pakistani nation.

“Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan. We remain steadfast in our determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the prime minister said.

He also expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, assuring that the nation stood with the people of Balochistan during this difficult time.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also condemned the attack and alleged that elements based in India and Afghanistan were backing terrorism in Pakistan.

He said the explosion caused the derailment of the train engine and three coaches, adding that railway authorities had been directed to submit an immediate report on the incident.