TEHRAN, October 6 - Iran categorically condemned recent terrorist attack in Pakistan’s Balochistan which claimed lives of 20 people.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - “Such cruel attacks come to create insecurity in Pakistan and fuel sedition and religious conflicts. These attacks make it necessary for Pakistani nation and government to keep calm and unity to continue fight against terror and uproot violence in the country,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi.
At least 20 people, including a police constable, were killed and more than 30 injured in a suicide bombing on Thursday at Dargah Pir Rakhel Shah in Fatehpur, a small town in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan.
District Chairman Jhal Magsi, Aurangzaib Magsi confirmed the death toll late in the night.
The deputy commissioner of Jhal Magsi had earlier said that the deceased include at least three children.
The medical superintendent of Gandawah Hospital, Dr Rukhsana Magsi, had earlier said 15 dead bodies were brought to the facility.
She said that another 24 injured were brought to District Headquarters Hospital Gandawah, of which 18 were shifted to Quetta and Larkana for medical treatment.
The governments of Sindh and Balochistan worked closely to rehabilitate those injured in the attack. Jhal Magsi is close to Balochistan's border with Sindh and better connected to larger cities like Jacobabad in the latter province.
The explosion, which police attributed to a suicide bomber, took place at the entrance to the dargah at a time when scores of people had gathered to pay their respects.
Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines as the day is considered spiritually significant, but the day was also significant for the dargah as it was hosting a bi-monthly event.