School kids, cop among casualties as bomb explosion rocks Pakistan

About four schoolchildren and two other people were killed when a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol vehicle in the volatile south-west Pakistani province exploded.
The attack, in the town of Mastung near the provincial headquarters of Quetta city, occurred early in the morning on Friday when school vans were carrying children to classrooms, local police official Ali Ahmed said.
At least 16 people, the majority of them children, were wounded by the bomb that was planted on a motorbike parked near a girls’ school, Mr Ahmed said.
The primary target was the police patrol vehicle, but a school van was hit by the bomb, said Shahid Rind, spokesman for the provincial government.
Mr Ahmed said that a police officer and a civilian were among the dead.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, ordering the arrest of the terrorists behind it, his office said in a statement.
Mastung, a sleepy mountainous town near the city of Quetta, has been the hub of Islamist militants from various Sunni groups, including the Islamic State and the Pakistani Taliban.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most volatile province, borders Afghanistan and Iran.
The province has seen a surge in violence in recent months by Islamist insurgents and sub-national rebels.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Delta content creator arrested after alleged rape victim dies by suicide
According to the victim, Mr Ogbonna initially demanded sex in exchange for financial help.Â

Heading 1
73 million children immunised in lower-income countries despite conflict, hesitancy, says Gavi Vaccine AllianceÂ
The organisation identified Sudan as the country with the greatest progress.Â

Heading 5
SCRAMP: Lagos begins documentation of informal urban spacesÂ
Mr Olayinka urged residents and stakeholders to cooperate with the exercise.

States
Police nab three over alleged kidnapping of herders in Osun, recover ransom
The police boss said all the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.

NationWide
Insecurity: Nigeria, UN to deepen West Africa border policing, says envoyÂ
Mr Ibrahim described the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge.

Africa
Kenya dismisses suit seeking legalisation of cannabis for Rastafarian worshippers
They petitioned the court to allow members to grow and use cannabis during worship.





