At least 60 people were killed while over 70 others sustained severe injuries on Friday following a suicide blast during the main procession of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi, as people gathered to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Balochistan's Mastung.

According to details, the blast rocked the vicinity near Madina mosque during the main procession of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi.

Mastung's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Gashkori was among the deceased.

The exact nature of the blast is yet to be ascertained.

Authorities have reached the site of the blast and cordoned off the area. An emergency has been declared at all hospitals.

'Subversive elements do not deserve any concession'

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki on Friday strongly condemned the bomb blast on the procession of Eid-e-Milad un Nabi (PBUH) in Mastung.

The Chief Minister called for investigating the incident and submit the report of the incident.

Those who target the peaceful procession will be dealt with an iron hand. Chief Minister said “We have to create complete unity in our ranks against terrorism. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.”

He added that those who commit such brutal acts cannot call themselves Muslims.

'Emergency imposed'

Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai turned to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: All LEAs, PDMA force and ambulances are on the scene. Injured victims have reached 40”.

He stated the urgent appeals have been issued for blood donations, and he requested prayers for both the martyrs and the injured.

Furthermore, he has instructed Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to apprehend the mastermind and their associates, with the Government of Balochistan (GOB) committing to offer full support to the injured.

All LEAs, PDMA force and ambulances are on the scene. Injured victims have reached 40.

Martyrs numbers are rising unfortunately.

Emergency imposed in Quetta Hospitals.

Appeals out for blood donations. Plz pray for the martyrs and injured #Mastungblast
— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) September 29, 2023

Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh, Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqir, has strongly condemned the incident.

He stated that those responsible for shedding the blood of innocent people in Mastung are nothing less than enemies of humanity itself.

Justice Baqir emphasized that such reprehensible acts should be condemned with the utmost severity, as they aim to create chaos and instability in Pakistan.

'Three days of mourning in Balochistan'

A three-day period of mourning has been declared by Provincial caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki throughout the province in response to the tragedy.

During this mourning period, Achakzai mentioned that the national flag will be flown at half-mast on government buildings.

President, PM denounce Mastung blast

President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar have strongly denounced the tragic incident.

In their separate statements, they expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of people in the incident. They also commiserated with the bereaved families.

Moreover, they directed the authorities concerned to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said the government is determined to root out terrorism from the country.

In a statement, he directed the concerned to provide better health facilities to injured people.

Former Sindh governor Imran Ismail slammed the terrorists for their cruel act of taking innocent lives and strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Mastung.

مستونگ میں دہشت گرد حملے کی شدید مذامت کرتے ہیں- معصوم جانوں کی زندگی ختم کرنے والے ظالم اور دہشت گرد ہیں- پوری قوم اس مشکل گھڑی میں اپنے مستونگ کے لوگوں کے ساتھ کھڑی ہے- امید ہے قانون نافذ کرنے والے ادارے جلد ان ظالموں کو کیفر کردار تک پہنچائیں گے
— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) September 29, 2023

Interim Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, also denounced the blast, extending his condolences to the families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones in the explosion.

Shehbaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President, expressed his grief over the lives lost and strongly condemned the incident.

He expressed concern about the increasing frequency of such incidents in Mastung and urged the government to ensure that the injured victims receive the highest quality of medical treatment available.

This marks the second significant explosion to strike fear into the residents of Mastung within the past 15 days.

On September 14, another explosion resulted in injuries to Hafiz Hamdullah, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), as well as several others.

Mastung has been a consistent target of terrorist attacks for several years, with a particularly devastating incident occurring in July 2018.

This attack, one of the deadliest in the district's history, claimed the lives of at least 128 individuals, including Mir Siraj Khan Raisan, a provincial assembly candidate from the then-newly-formed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). The tragic suicide blast in 2018 also left a staggering 200 people wounded.