KARACHI: 97 Pakistani lost their lives and over hundred sustained injuries in a planned attack by terrorists on Monday morning at the entrance of emergency ward of Civil Hospital Quetta.
The attack was coordinated and orchestrated as in the first incident President, Balochistan Bar Association (bba) Bilal Anwar Kasi was targeted by unidentified gunmen on Mannu Jan Road when he left to attend court cases as per his daily routine. He died in the incident and his body was taken to the CH Quetta for autopsy. As soon as the news of his death spread, lawyers in their uniform, started to gather at CH Quetta for receiving the body. A suicide bomber struck amidst the mourning lawyers and general public visiting the emergency killing 63 most of victim being lawyers. The dead include former president BBA Sardar Baz Muhammad Kakar, media men from two television channels.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif who happened to be in Quetta visited the CHQ immediately after the blast and sympathized with the injured and their families. He also had a briefing by the intelligence and law enforcing officials.
Chief Minister Balochistan Sardar Sanaullah Zehri also rushed to the hospital and later talking to the media blamed Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for the attack and said terrorists are now hitting ‘soft targets’. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also immediately left for Quetta. He condemned the bomb blast and also the murder of Bilal Anwar Kasi. He directed the provincial government to arrest the culprits behind the attacks immediately and bring them to book.
“No one will be allowed to disturb the peace of the province,” said Nawaz Sharif in a statement. “The people, policy and security forces in Balochistan have given sacrifices for the country,” he added. PM Nawaz also issued orders for the injured to be provided the best medical treatment.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the bomb blast and expressed his grief at the loss of life in Quetta. Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan also condemned the incident. Chief Minister of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri also called for providing the injured with best medical facilities.
Former Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik termed it as the ‘blackest day’ in the history of Balochistan.
Defence Analysts also believe that today’s incident of terrorism is related to the CPEC as the enemies of Pakistan are bent upon creating an environment of fear and uncertainty about Pakistan’s capacity to combat the terrorism make the thousands of kilometer long CPEC routes safe for movement of commercial cargo and millions of other vehicles.
The recent visit of COAS Raheel Sharif to China perturbed the anti Pakistan forces who planned this tragedy to happen to show to the people of Pakistan and to the world that Pakistan in general and areas most important in terms of CPEC projects are unsafe and vulnerable discouraging investment as well as development.
The Pakistani leadership however by their quick response and convergance at Quetta after the blast carried a clear message to the anti Pakistan forces that no power on earth could stop the era of development and ultimate goal i.e CPEC completion as this project is bound to free Pakistan from subordination to IMF and other international donors and enable the country to develop its most backward areas.
Armed Forces of Pakistan are in fatc the guarantors of CPEC and individually it is General raheel Sharif who has the confidence of all stake holders and parties to the development project. Extending his service for few years was under active consideration of the federal government as analyst believe that to keep the pace and to ensure completion of the CPEC on project, continuity in the leadership is essential.