QUETTA, Pakistan: The death toll of the bomb blast which occurred inside the Civil Hospital in Quetta on Monday morning has reached 64 whereas the former President of Balochistan Bar Association Baz Muhammad Kakar, Dawn News and AAJ TV Cameramen Mehmood Khan and Shahzad Khan are also among the martyrs.
The bomb went off after lawyers had gathered outside Emergency Ward of the Civil Hospital where the dead body of President Balochistan Bar Association Bilal Anwar Kasi had been brought for autopsy.
In addition, more than 50 persons mostly lawyers also sustained injuries in the Civil Hospital Blast.
Earlier, unknown assailants shot dead President of Balochistan Bar Association Bilal Anwar Kasi at Mannu Jan road.
Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan strongly denounced the blast at Civil Hospital in Quetta and deplored the loss of precious lives in the incident.
In their separate statements, the president and the prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. They directed for provision of best treatment to those injured in the attack.
The prime minister also directed the concerned authorities to maintain utmost vigilance and beef up security for the legal fraternity and members of civil society.
Nawaz Sharif said that no one will be allowed to disturb peace in Balochistan that has been restored due to countless sacrifices of security forces, police and the people of the province.
Separately, the prime minister also strongly condemned the assassination of President Balochistan Bar Association Bilal Anwar Kasi and directed the Ministry of Interior and the provincial government to hunt down the perpetrators of this brutal act.
Condemnable cowardly terrorists strike Quetta targeting bar president then civil hospital. Even in war hospitals not delib targeted.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 8, 2016
In a statement, the President Supreme Court Bar Ali Zafar said that the explosion in Quetta Civil Hospital is aimed at demoralizing lawyers and spread terror. He said that explosion in Quetta is a direct attack on lawyers community.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association, Quetta Bar Association and Lahore Bar Association also strongly condemned the killing of Bilal Anwar Kasi and announced to go on strike against Quetta blast.
