Quetta BNP-Mengal rally blast kills several, injures dozens

A blast struck a parking area outside a Balochistan National Party-Mengal rally in Quetta on Tuesday night, killing multiple people and injuring dozens as attendees were leaving the event, officials said. The explosion, which police suspect was a suicide attack, occurred near Shahwani Stadium after the rally to mark the death anniversary of party founder Attaullah Mengal.

Accounts of the toll varied across official and party sources. The Balochistan health department and Quetta Civil Hospital initially reported five dead and 29 injured, and hospital spokesperson Waseem Baig confirmed that figure to reporters. Other officials and media outlets gave higher numbers, with several reports citing between 11 and 17 fatalities and roughly 30 to 36 wounded. A senior BNP-Mengal leader, Advocate Sajid Tareen, told a media briefing that 13 party workers had been killed and several others injured, while party statements posted on social media put the figure as high as 15. Authorities said many of the wounded were in critical condition, raising fears the death toll could rise.

Government and police officials described the explosion as taking place in the parking area about 15 minutes after...