DERA MURAD JAMA­LI: One person was killed and 18 others were injured, five of them seriously, in a bomb blast here on Sunday.

According to police, an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a motorbike parked outside a private clinic at Mazdor Chowk went off, resulting in the death of a person on the spot and injuries to 18 others. The injured included a doctor who was running the clinic.

Personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the area and shifted the body and the injured to the district headquarters hospital. “The condition of five injured was serious and they were shifted to a hospital in Larkana,” Dr Ayaz Jamali, medical superintendent of the hospital.

Police said the IED was detonated by remote control. Windowpanes of various nearby shops and buildings were smashed. The injured included mostly people who were selling fruit and vegetables on pushcarts.

Five of 18 injured said to be in critical condition

The man killed in the blast was identified as Mohammad Omer Bugti. His body was handed over to the family after completing medico-legal formalities.

Nasirabad Commissioner Javed Akhtar and Deputy Commission Qurban Magsi also visited the explosion site along with Frontier Corps Commandant Anjum Shakeel. They also visited the hospital to enquire after the health of the injured. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, Home Minister Ziaullah Langove and other ministers condemned the blast.

The chief minister termed the blast a terrorist act and said the anti-state elements targeted the poor innocent people, adding that those responsible for it would not be spared and brought to justice. He directed the authorities concerned to take all steps for the arrest of terrorists and provide best medical treatment to the injured. Home Minister Langove sought a report on the incident and said the government would not bow down before terrorists and would crash them.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2019