A powerful explosion took place near the Police Lines area in Pishin, Balochistan, on Saturday afternoon, claiming the lives of at least two innocent children, while several others, including police officials, were injured in the attack.
Police believe the blast took place near a vehicle, causing extensive damage to nearby buildings and other vehicles, private news channels reported.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to aid the injured and later transferred them to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police said while the exact nature of the blast had yet to be determined, initial reports suggest that it may have been a targeted attack on the police.
An investigation into the attack has been launched to determine the cause of the explosion and identify those responsible.
This is the second attack on police in the country in as many days, with a total toll of up to 14.
Funeral prayers offered for officers killed in RYK
Funeral prayers were offered for the 12 police personnel who were martyred in an attack mounted by dacoits in Machhka.
The prayers were offered at the Sadiq Shaheed Police Lines in Rahim Yar Khan where a smartly turned out contingent of police paid tribute to the martyrs. Several senior officials attended the prayers, including Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar, and Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal. A large number of senior police and military officials, police personnel, the public, and relatives of martyrs also participated in the prayers.
In the attack in the Machhka area, at least 12 police personnel were martyred and eight others were injured as they mounted an operation against the dacoits. Three of the martyred officers belonged to the Hindu community.
After the funeral prayers, the bodies of the martyrs were dispatched to their native areas. The martyrs were buried with full honours in their hometowns.
An FIR for the attack was registered on Saturday.
Later, Mohsin Naqvi visited the injured police personnel who were receiving treatment at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Naqvi termed the martyrdom of the police officers a tragedy for Pakistan and assured the sacrifices of the martyrs would not go in vain and emphasised that those involved in the heinous act would be made an example of. He vowed the federal government would completely support the Punjab government in eliminating the dacoits from the riverine areas.
The interior minister also stated that recommendations would be made to bestow high honours upon the martyrs.
Later, while presiding over a high-level meeting at Rahim Yar Khan Airport, Naqvi emphasised the need for taking robust measures and instructed authorities to equip police forces with modern weapons and safety equipment.
Naqvi described the incident as a “sad tragedy” and directed all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
He also ordered a coordinated operation against the perpetrators, stating that they would be dealt with “iron hands.”