A suicide bomber killed five and injured 12 people at a girls' religious school in Pishin district of Balochistan on Monday.District Police Officer Akbar Raisani confirmed the incident saying that the blast had occurred at a girls' madrassa in Kili Karbala, where a senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani, was scheduled to address the school's convocation.
Witnesses said the suicide bomber was a teenager who wanted to get close to the JUI-F leader as soon as he ended his speech.
Three of the victims were identified as Muhammad Nasim, Jalath Khan and Hafiz Abdul Zahir, while the names of the other two could not be ascertained.
Protest: JUI-F supporters burnt tyres on the Jinnah Road and shouted slogans against the government for being unable to arrest the elements behind the blast.
JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Wasay, who is also a senior provincial minister, condemned the incident. He said the JUI would observe a strike across the province today (Tuesday). The police said it was investigating the matter.
According to the witnesses, two men had come to the religious school for the bombing but one of them escaped immediately after the first explosion. Quoting police sources, the JUI leaders said two alleged suspects had been arrested in connection with the blast.
Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani expressed sorrow over the blast and assured the bereaved families that the government would investigate into the matter to expose those behind the blast.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad also condemned the blast and offered condolences to the families of the victims, APP reported.