QUETTA - Two policemen were martyred and twelve other people including eight policemen were wounded in a bomb blast that occurred near a police truck at Serena Chowk, Zarghoon Road in Quetta on Sunday.

Police and rescue workers said the blast took place when a police truck was passing through the road. The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta. The law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and started investigations.

Police sources said the improvised explosive device (IED) was fitted into a motorcycle. The injured were shifted to hospital, where an emergency was imposed, while Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) teams were at the scene.

Following the attack, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani in a tweet condemned the attack stating that terrorists want to disturb Balochistan’s peace and spread fear.

President, ministers strongly condemn terror attack 

“Terrorism Incident at Hali Chowk: motorcycle IED Blast took place at Hali Chowk, Quetta. Target was a police vehicle carrying 15 policemen 2 policemen martyred while 12 policemen & 6 civilians are injured. Injured have been shifted to hospital. CTD crime scene teams r on spot,” Shahwani tweeted.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan also condemned the attack and expressed sadness over the martyrdom of the two police personnel. “Terrorist elements want to ruin the province’s peace. [We] will never allow terrorists to succeed in their nefarious plans,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.

The chief minister directed officials to submit a report into the attack and to provide the best available treatment facilities to the injured.

Late last month, at least four people were wounded and a Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle was damaged in a blast in Hazar Ganji in the outskirts of Quetta.

Also, President Dr Arif Alvi and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi strongly condemned the Quetta blast. In a statement, the President said Pakistan will not allow the nefarious intentions of terrorists to succeed. He said such actions cannot shake Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism.

They extended heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the early recovery of injured.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain also condemned the blast in Quetta.

In a tweet, he urged the opposition leaders to break silence and condemn the sponsors of Terrorism in Pakistan.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has condemned the blast at Serena Chowk in Quetta.

Taking notice of the incident, he sought a report from the Balochistan government on the blast.

Expressing regret over the loss of precious lives of policemen in the blast, he extended sympathy to the bereaved and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Interior Minister said we will provide full support to the Balochistan government for maintaining law and order. He said we will go to any extent to deal with terrorist incidents in the country. He said the Quetta blast is a cowardly act that targeted police and such acts of terrorism cannot discourage our forces.