A suicide bomber struck a political rally in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more, authorities said.
The explosion hit as crowds were leaving a gathering in Quetta marking the death anniversary of Baloch nationalist leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal, a former provincial chief minister. His son, politician Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who was in attendance, escaped the attack unharmed.
At least 18 people were wounded in the blast, which took place in the parking lot of a stadium where hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had assembled.
Government official Hamza Shafaat confirmed the casualty toll and said another 30 people were injured. “The reports we have say that the bomb went off in a parking area as the people were leaving the rally,” he said.
Police official Athar Rasheed said the initial investigation indicated the blast was a suicide bombing. Security forces have cordoned off the area, and a probe is underway.
The attack has raised fears of renewed instability in Balochistan, a province long plagued by violence from separatist groups and extremist militants.
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Similar attack in northwest Pakistan
Elsewhere in Pakistan on Tuesday, at least 12 people were killed in a coordinated assault on a paramilitary base in the town of Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Regional police chief Sajjad Khan said the attack began when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the boundary wall of the base, creating a breach that allowed militants to storm the compound.
The incident sparked a fierce 12-hour gun battle between the attackers and security forces, leaving six security personnel and six terrorists dead.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent months, with extremist groups intensifying their attacks on both civilians and security forces.
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