IED blast kills 2, injures 8 in targeted attack in Pakistan's Balochistan

Karachi: At least two people were killed and eight others injured when a trader's vehicle was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, according to a media report on Wednesday.

The blast occurred Tuesday night on a road in Khuzdar city, where the bomb was attached to a vehicle using magnets and then detonated through a remote device, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Among those who were killed included the 20-year-old son of a local journalist and a trader, both of whom were in the targeted vehicle, Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fahad Khosa said.

The SSP also said that preliminary investigations suggested the perpetrators targeted the trader, the report said.

Condemning the attack, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, in a statement, said that those targeting innocent civilians had nothing to do with the nation or religion and could not even be called humans.

He further added that the government and the nation were intent on eradicating terrorism.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo also condemned the blast, expressed sorrow over the deaths and offered condolences to the families.

“Terrorists are targeting innocent citizens. The plot to destabilise the province by spreading terror and chaos will be foiled,” he said, adding that terrorism should be condemned by all.

“We will have to stand united against terrorists,” he said, directing the concerned officials to enhance the security in Khuzdar.

The recent blast comes on the heels of frequent terror attacks in both the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and areas bordering Afghanistan.

Last month, an IED blast went off while police personnel were patrolling the area in Balochistan's Khuzdar district killing two policemen and injuring another.

Another IED blast was reported inside a market in Balochistan that killed at least four people and left 14 others injured.