Islamabad: At least 20 people — including two children, a Frontier Corps official and eight members of the Shia Hazara community — were killed on Friday and 48 sustained injuries in an explosion at fruit and vegetable market in Quetta's Hazarganji area.
People in large numbers were present when the blast took place near a car and damaged adjacent shops as well.
Since 2012, attacks against the ethnic Hazara community, have been on the rise. Hazara casualties include everyone from students and government employees to sportsmen.
The hospital sources informed that the injured were in serious condition. Emergency was imposed in all hospitals of Quetta and people were requested to donate blood to save lives. Police said the bomb was hidden inside sacks of potatoes. The investigation teams collected evidences from the targeted area and security forces conducted search operation in locality.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal said the attack was conducted to sabotage the peaceful atmosphere. While expressing solidarity with the victims, the chief minister said those who are responsible for this heinous activity are inhumane and deserved no mercy.
Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident and summoned report from the concerned authorities. He further directed to provide best medical facilities to the wounded.
Hazara make up roughly 500,000 of the city's 2.3 million people.
Amnesty International said the blast was a "painful reminder" of the many attacks suffered by the Hazara community in Quetta over the years, and called for the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to give them better protection. "Each time, there are promises that more will be done to protect them, and each time those promises have failed to materialize," wrote Omar Waraich, Amnesty's deputy director for South Asia. Violence in Pakistan has dropped significantly since the country's deadliest-ever militant attack in Peshawar school.
