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File photo of interior minister, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed

Serena hotel Quetta blast carried out to disrupt Pakistan’s peace: Sheikh Rasheed

News Desk :

Federal Interior Minister, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday termed the Quetta Serena hotel blast as an attempt to disrupt the peace of Pakistan. The blast in Quetta’s luxury hotel claimed five lives on Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, the Federal Minister said he was issuing a statement after queries by the international media. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) also termed the blast a suicide attack.

“The [attacker] was a suicide bomber and used C4 explosives, weighing between 60 to 70 kilogrammes. The suicide attacker stayed in the car which has been sent for forensic [analysis].”

Talking about the injured, he said six of them remained in hospital, while one or two were in critical condition.

The elements who opposed the development of the country carried the blast 

Rashid said the attack was carried out by “forces which opposed the country’s development and wanted to undo the stability gained by the PTI government”, as well as disrupt Quetta’s peaceful environment.

“We had handed over the command of 13 security check posts to police, and the Frontier Corps were also ready to leave several others before this bloody incident,” he added. Without elaborating, Rashid said a final decision will be taken after investigations, adding that he had directed the provincial chief secretary to immediately look into the incident.

He said Gwadar and Balochistan were important for Pakistan’s progress, terming Gwadar the “future” of the country. On Wednesday night, a powerful bomb exploded in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel in Quetta, killing at least five people and wounding 12 others.

DIG Azhar Ikram said at the time that the explosive device was apparently fitted in a vehicle, citing initial investigations. He added that a police officer was among the deceased.

Responding to a question today, Rashid said the Chinese ambassador was currently present in Balochistan and was safe. “There will be no chaos, we are safe,” he stressed. China is Pakistan’s experienced friend, he said, adding that the friendship between the two countries was “higher than the Himalayan mountains”.

Serena hotel Quetta blast carried out to disrupt Pakistan’s peace: Sheikh Rasheed

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.