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Hospital Bombing in Pakistani City of Quetta Kills at Least 42 Hospital Bombing in Pakistani City of Quetta Kills at Least 54
(about 2 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 42 people were killed on Monday in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta when an explosion, apparently caused by a suicide bomber, struck a hospital where dozens of lawyers had gathered to condemn the killing of a prominent colleague. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 54 people were killed on Monday in the restive Pakistani city of Quetta when an explosion, apparently caused by a suicide bomber, struck a hospital where dozens of lawyers had gathered to condemn the killing of a prominent colleague.
Officials in the southwestern city said that at least 30 people were wounded, most of them critically, and that the death toll was likely to rise. Officials in the southwestern city said that at least 50 people were wounded, most of them critically, and that the death toll was likely to rise.
The blast came after the shooting early Monday of Bilal Anwar Kasi, president of the Baluchistan Bar Association, by unknown attackers. Local news reports said that he was killed by men on a motorcycle as he was on his way to court. As the news of Mr. Kasi’s death spread through Quetta, dozens of lawyers went to Civil Hospital, where his body had been taken for an autopsy.The blast came after the shooting early Monday of Bilal Anwar Kasi, president of the Baluchistan Bar Association, by unknown attackers. Local news reports said that he was killed by men on a motorcycle as he was on his way to court. As the news of Mr. Kasi’s death spread through Quetta, dozens of lawyers went to Civil Hospital, where his body had been taken for an autopsy.
As they protested the killing, a powerful blast ripped through the entrance to the hospital’s emergency department, leading to widespread panic. Television footage showed scores of lawyers running for cover as gunfire echoed in the background.As they protested the killing, a powerful blast ripped through the entrance to the hospital’s emergency department, leading to widespread panic. Television footage showed scores of lawyers running for cover as gunfire echoed in the background.
Some lawyers could be seen pushing a stretcher bearing a wounded colleague, as others urged them to safety. “Get inside, get inside,” one lawyer could be heard saying, waving, as others rushed into the hospital building. A cameraman for a local television news network was among those killed. Some lawyers could be seen pushing a stretcher bearing a wounded colleague, as others urged them to safety. “Get inside, get inside,” one lawyer could be heard saying, waving, as others rushed into the hospital building. Two cameramen working for two local news networks were among those killed.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing or for Mr. Kasi’s shooting, and officials said they were still investigating possible motives for both assaults. The bombing left a trail of destruction. The charred bodies of victims lay in pools of blood. Several vehicles parked nearby were damaged, and windows in nearby buildings were shattered.
Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, a spokesman for the government of Baluchistan, the province of which Quetta is the capital, said that the “initial investigation suggests it was a suicide bombing.” There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing or for Mr. Kasi’s shooting. Officials said they were investigating possible motives for both assaults.
Baluchistan, a province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, has undergone separatist and sectarian violence for more than a decade, posing a challenge to successive Pakistani governments. Most of the violence in Quetta has been sectarian in nature, mainly directed toward the Hazaras, a Shiite Muslim minority group. Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan, a province bordering Afghanistan and Iran that has experienced separatist and sectarian violence for more than a decade, posing a challenge to successive Pakistani governments. Most of the violence in Quetta has been sectarian in nature, mainly directed toward the Hazaras, a Shiite Muslim minority.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing on Monday, urging the law enforcement authorities to increase security in Quetta. “No one will be allowed to disturb the peace in the province that has been restored thanks to the countless sacrifices by the security forces, police and the people of Baluchistan,” Mr. Sharif said in a statement. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing on Monday, urging the law enforcement authorities to increase security in Quetta. “No one will be allowed to disturb the peace in the province that has been restored thanks to the countless sacrifices by the security forces, police and the people of Baluchistan,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Kakar, the spokesman for Baluchistan’s government, said that the perpetrators would soon be brought to justice. “This is indeed a highly condemnable act, but such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve of eradicating the menace of terrorism,” he said by telephone. Quetta has a large contingent of civil security and paramilitary forces, and the authorities have claimed in recent months that they have brought some semblance of normalcy to the city. But the bombing on Monday showed that militants could still choose and strike targets at will and with relative ease.
By the afternoon, Gen. Raheel Sharif, the Pakistani Army chief, had reached the city to visit victims and express solidarity. General Sharif then led a meeting of senior security officials, according to Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the army spokesman.
General Bajwa, in a message posted on Twitter, claimed that the attack was “an attempt to undermine the improved security” in Baluchistan, specifically targeting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a multibillion-dollar endeavor by both countries that includes infrastructure networks and energy projects.
A spokesman for Baluchistan’s government, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, said that the perpetrators would soon be brought to justice. “This is indeed a highly condemnable act, but such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve of eradicating the menace of terrorism,” he said by telephone.
The Pakistani Bar Association said lawyers across the country would hold a one-day strike on Tuesday and would spend a week in mourning.The Pakistani Bar Association said lawyers across the country would hold a one-day strike on Tuesday and would spend a week in mourning.