Suicide blast near mosque in Pakistan; 52 killed, many injured

KARACHI: At least 52 people were killed and many were injured in a suicide blast that took place in Mastung district in Balochistan province in Pakistan. The condition of many injured people is serious. The explosion took place near the Madina Mosque where people had gathered to mark Eid Miladun Nabi.

Mastung’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Gashkori is among the deceased. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts which come amid a surge in attacks by militant groups in Pakistan, raising the stakes for security forces ahead of national elections scheduled for January next year.

This is the second major blast in Mastung district in September. As many as 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast that took place in the district at the beginning of the month.