Deadly Bomb Blast Strikes Near Political Rally in Quetta

Published: 04 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

At least fifteen people were killed and more than thirty others injured in a suicide bombing near a political rally in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The attack took place on Tuesday night as hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had gathered to commemorate the late Ataullah Mengal, former chief minister of the province, who passed away in 2021.

According to provincial authorities, the suicide bomber was unable to penetrate the rally venue due to heightened security measures, detonating instead in the parking area. Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar noted that the blast’s location prevented even greater loss of life. Government official Hamza Shafqaat added that 120 police personnel had been deployed to the rally, underscoring the vigilance of security arrangements.

The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, continuing a pattern of deadly assaults in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and poorest region, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. The province has faced frequent attacks by militant organizations, including separatist factions and Islamist extremists, posing ongoing threats to both civilians and government officials.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror in the aftermath of the explosion. Zaman Baloch, who was standing some distance from the blast, recounted suffering shrapnel injuries to his leg and witnessing widespread panic and chaos. “After the explosion, I saw a lot of people lying on the ground and there was screaming everywhere,” he said. Another survivor, Noor Ahmad, described hearing a loud, sudden blast. Injured BNP leader Ahmed Nawaz told BBC Urdu that the explosion occurred roughly 200 feet from the rally venue.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it “damning evidence of the nefarious conspiracy by terrorists to spread chaos in Balochistan,” according to local media reports.

Balochistan has experienced repeated acts of violence in recent years. In February 2024, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing at election offices that killed more than 20 people. Last November, a suicide attack at a Quetta railway station left over 20 dead, claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army. Earlier this year, armed militants from the same separatist group hijacked a train carrying more than 400 passengers, threatening hostages in demands for political prisoners’ release.

The latest bombing underscores the persistent security challenges faced in Balochistan and highlights the continuing vulnerability of both political gatherings and ordinary civilians to militant violence in the region.