People check the wreckage of a destroyed pilgrims' bus at the suicide blast site in southwest Pakistan's Mastung on Jan. 21, 2014. At least 28 people were killed and 45 others injured when a suicide bomber hit a bus carrying Shiite Muslim pilgrims in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan on Tuesday, local media reported. (Xinhua/Asad)
At least 28 people were killed and 45 others injured when a suicide bomber hit a bus carrying Shiite muslim pilgrims in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan on Tuesday, local media reported.
Aaj TV said that a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the pilgrims' bus in Dareen Ghar area of Mastung, a district in the province.
Shafqat Anwar, Assistant Commissioner of Mastung, said that the targeted bus was carrying over 50 pilgrims who were on their way back from Iran's Taftan city to the provincial capital Quetta.
He added that the bus caught fire following the blast causing heavy casualties.
The injured people including eight women were sifted to combined military hospital for treatment.
Shiite councils across the country condemned the blast and announced a three-day mourning. They also asked government to provide foolproof security to the pilgrims and Shiite community.
Talking to media after the blast, Asad ur Rehman Gilani, Home Secretary of Balochistan, said that the provincial government has always provided security to the pilgrims' buses in a bid to curb attacks on Shiite pilgrims.
He said that on Tuesday security vehicles were escorting two buses carrying pilgrims when one of the buses was hit by a suicide bomber.
Asad said that several security personnel were injured in the blast and two security vehicles were destroyed.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Leaders of the country's major political parties, and both Prime Minister and President condemned the blast.
Prime Mistier Nawaz Sharif lamented over the loss of precious lives and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical facilities to the sufferers of the blast.
