QUETTA, Dec 31: The death toll from Friday’s car bomb attack in the city rose to 16 on Saturday, sources said.

DIG Operations Nazeer Ahmed Kurd confirmed 15 deaths and said 35 people had suffered shrapnel wounds.

Sources said another body was found from the wreckage of a vehicle destroyed in the blast.

Addressing a press conference, the DIG said the exploded vehicle was similar to the one used by Shafique Mengal, son of former minister of state Mir Naseer Mengal.

Mr Kurd said it was not yet clear whether it was a suicide attack or the explosives planted in the car were detonated by a remote control device.

He said two teams – one headed by the DIG investigation and other by him – had been set up to investigate the attack. Talking about the murder of police surgeon Baqir Shah, who was forensic investigator of the Kharotabad incident, he said the doctor never informed the police about any threat to his life.

The police department offered Dr Shah security, but he turned down the offer, the DIG claimed. “We have his written statement about refusal of taking security.”

He said all efforts were being made to arrest Dr Shah’s killers, adding it was premature to ascertain the motive behind his murder.

STRIKE: A strike was observed in Khuzdar town and other areas of the district on Saturday in protest against the car bomb blast.

Business activities in the constituency of Naseer Mengal remained closed throughout the day. People faced hardships because medical stores, banks and patrol pumps were shut.

Some protesters burnt tyres on the National Highway, disrupting traffic.