A strong explosion has killed at least twenty people at a busy vegetable market in the southwestern Balochistan province on Friday (yesterday) morning.
The blast, which ripped through Quetta’s Hazarganji sabzi mandi at around 7:35 am, was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been hidden inside a potato sack in the market, the city police chief revealed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi, and Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims.
PM Imran Khan :
Deeply saddened & have strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Hazarganji market area of Quetta targeting our innocent people. I have asked for an immediate inquiry & increased security for the ppl. Prayers go to the families of the victims & for early recovery of the injured.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 12, 2019
Along Politicians, many famous personalities and celebrities have also reacted to the matter and paid condolences on their social media handle including Mahira Khan, Shaan Shahid, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Hareem Farooq, Imran Abbas and many more:
Mawra Hocane:
Tearful.. shaken.. oh my Quetta???? #QuettaAttack
My heartfelt condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one today & sending warmth to each one of you who has survived & is traumatised.
Oh Allah! Please make these acts of cowardice & inhumanity stop. Please.— MAWRA HOCANE (@MawraHocane) April 12, 2019
Hareem Farooq:
This is just heartbreaking, my prayers for everyone in #Quetta ???? pic.twitter.com/kwk5HV3lXI
— Hareem Farooq (@FarooqHareem) April 12, 2019
Hamza Ali Abbasi:
#QuettaBlast One of the last fronts of this terrible war we have been fighting with those who only worship power and human life has no value for them. Another plot to harm Pakistan & divide us along religious and ethnic lines. May Allah grant jannah to the shaheeds.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) April 12, 2019
Faysal Qureshi:
Its so painful ke hamare hazara k bhai behno ko baar baaar target kiya jata hai aur phir inn mai se koi saamne nahi aata ke aakhir yeh terrorists hain kon ..#Quettableeds #hazara
— Faysal Quraishi (@faysalquraishi) April 12, 2019
Shaan Shahid:
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) April 12, 2019
Rabia Butt:
Pakistan bleeds again. If you look carefully around the world, Muslims are the ones who get affected by the terrorism, the most and still they hold us responsible. Wake up world, don’t see what the big giants are trying to show you, see what’s lying underneath#quettablast
— Rabia Butt (@Iamrabiabutt) April 12, 2019
Mahira Khan:
#Quetta bleeds again and so do our hearts. Praying for those we lost and their families.
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) April 12, 2019
Armeena Rana Khan:
Inna lillahe wa inna ilehe rajeoon #QuettaBlast
— Armeena Khan (@ArmeenaRK) April 12, 2019
Imran Abbas:
My heart bleeds for the innocent people in Baluchistan. At least 20 people were killed and 48 injured in a blast believed to be targeting members of the Hazara community in Quetta’s Hazarganji market on Friday morning.
— Imran Abbas (@ImranAbbas) April 12, 2019
The blast, which ripped through Quetta’s Hazarganji sabzi mandi at around 7:35 am, was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been hidden inside a potato sack in the market, the city police chief revealed.Hundreds of people were present at the site of the blast, which caused severe damage to the buildings nearby.