Dozens dead, several injured in Pakistan hospital blast

No fewer than 42 people were killed in Monday’s attack in a hospital in Pakistan’s Quetta city.

The blast took place as soon as a group of lawyers arrived at Quetta’s Civil Hospital in support of their colleague who was shot earlier in the day.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri reportedly said that India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was behind the attack.

At least 50 people had entered the hospital’s emergency department accompanying the body of slain lawyer and president of Balochistan Bar Association, Bilal Anwar Kasi.

“More than 20 people have been killed, including two cameramen in the blast,” said Daud Khilji, a senior administration official in Quetta.

Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Harifal said, “The blast occurred after a number of lawyers and some journalists had gathered at the hospital following the death of the president of the Balochistan Bar Association in a separate shooting incident early this morning.”

Police reportedly said that after the blast, unidentified men opened fire. Pakistan’s Frontier Corps and the police have arrived at the scene and the area has been cordoned off. An emergency was declared in all hospitals across the city.

Journalists were also injured in the blast. A cameraman for DawnNews was severely injured and another cameraman Shahzad Khan who was with Aaj TV was killed.

No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.