40 killed in Quetta blast

ISLAMABAD - At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a powerful blast ripped through a Shia procession in Pakistan’s Quetta city Friday, two days after a similar attack killed 35 people in Lahore.

Panic gripped Quetta after the blast as rescue workers shifted the dead and injured to the hospital. The death toll is feared to rise.

Aaj TV driver Muhammad Sarwar was among the dead while several cameramen were injured.

Security officials have cordoned off the area.

A senior police officer said the processionists were asked to disperse before Meezan chowk but they didn’t relent.

Angry Shias fired gunshots in the air after the incident, creating a tense situation.

A van of Dunya TV was also fired at and the windscreen was shattered.

Emergency has been declared in Quetta hospitals. Because of planned Shia processions across the country after Friday prayers, security was on high alert.

On Wednesday, three blasts in quick succession in Lahore killed at least 35 people and wounded over 200.

The first blast occurred near Karbala Gamay Shah in Lahore’s Lower Mall area while the second and third blasts were near Bhatti Chowk, just a few paces away.

Terror group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the blasts. The group was founded in 1996 in Jhang city of Punjab province.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)