Quetta, September 3, 2025: The death toll from Tuesday’s suicide blast in Quetta has climbed to 15, while authorities warned of fresh threats after intelligence reports suggested more suicide bombers may have entered Balochistan.
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar confirmed on Wednesday that 38 people were wounded in the explosion, eight of whom remain under treatment at the trauma centre. An investigation committee has been formed to probe the attack. “The suicide bomber could not reach the BNP rally venue due to strict security arrangements,” Kakar added.
The blast struck a busy area near Quetta’s Shahwani Stadium late Tuesday evening, just 45 minutes after a Balochistan National Party (BNP) rally had ended. Authorities said the damage could have been far worse had the bomber reached the venue, where 120 police personnel were deployed.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed hospitals to provide the best treatment to the injured and ordered arrangements to shift patients to Karachi if necessary. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing grief over the loss of lives and calling it part of a terrorist plot to destabilize Balochistan.
“We will continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication,” PM Shehbaz said, terming attacks on innocent citizens “cowardly and condemnable.”
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat told reporters that eight kilograms of explosives were used in the blast. He revealed that despite repeated warnings, organisers insisted on holding the BNP rally, which had official permission. “The organisers were told three times to end the rally. The allotted time was 3pm, but the explosion occurred around 9pm,” he said.
Shafqaat further disclosed that 22 suspects had recently entered Balochistan, possibly including suicide bombers. He warned that the administration’s security alerts should be taken seriously, adding that future rallies and gatherings would not be allowed after sundown.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a case against unidentified individuals under murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges. Officials confirmed that the bomber’s remains have been sent for forensic analysis.
The attack comes amid a surge in militancy in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan suffered 78 terrorist attacks in June alone, killing at least 100 people, including 53 security personnel and 39 civilians.
Authorities have placed security forces on high alert in Quetta and across Balochistan, with officials warning of heightened threats ahead of Rabi ul Awwal 12 processions.
