JI chief Haq survives suicide attack in Balochistan

QUETTA:AT least one person was killed when a suspected suicide atacker targeted the vehicle of Jamaat-e-islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq in Zhob, Balochistan, on Friday.

“This seems to be a suicide atack,” a senior security official said, adding that so far one person is confirmed dead and four injured. Sirajul Haq remained unhurt in the atack.

A tweet by the Jamaat-e-islami said Haq was on his way to address a public gathering when he was targeted in a “suicide atack.”

“The suicide atacker blew himself up near the vehicle of Sirajul Haq, but he remained unhurt in the atack.”

The party added that seven of its workers are injured and four are in serious condition.

Meanwhile, the banned Tehreek-e-taliban Pakistan (TTP) distanced itself from the Zhob atack.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, while condemning the blast, expressed satisfaction over the safety of Jamaat-e-islami chief in the terrorist incident.

He said that he will not allow the terrorist elements and their patrons to succeed in their nefarious ambitions.

He said he is deeply saddened that five people were injured in the incident, adding that he is grateful to the Almighty who protected Sirajul Haq and his colleagues.

Separately, President Dr Arif Alvi telephoned the family members of those martyred in a terrorist atack in the Muslim Bagh area of Balochistan on May 12.

The president paid tribute to the martyrs and saluted them for their services to the nation. He also sympathised with the family members of the martyred and also got emotional during the conversation.

The president phoned to the family members of Abdul Raheem, Muhammad Irfan, Nadeem Iqbal, Ghulam Fareed, and sanitary workers Sabir Masih and Shan Masih.

He also had a telephonic conversation with family members of Lance Naik Faheem Mushtaq and soldiers Saeed Aslam and Talha Jami.

“The martyrs are an asset for the nation. The nation will never forget their sacrifices,” the president commented.

He also lauded the services of the martyrs to the country and paid them tribute on behalf of the whole nation.

Earlier, one Frontier Corps soldier was martyred while a terrorist was killed during an exchange of fire in the Loesam area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

As per the military’s media wing statement, the fire exchange took place in the general area of Loesam in the Bajaur district.