DIG Hamid Shakeel among three martyred in Quetta suicide attack

QUETTA: A senior police officer was among three officials martyred in a suicide attack on Quetta's airport road Thursday morning. 

Around eight others, including police officials, were said to be injured in the attack on the vehicle of the senior police officer. 

SSP Operations Naseebullah said DIG Hamid Shakeel, who was heading the motor transport and telecommunications department, and two other police officials were martyred when the DIG's convoy was targetted in a bomb attack.  

The injured have been moved to the Combined Military Hospital and Civil Hospital for treatment. 

Two police officials are said to be in critical condition. 

Sources said DIG Shakeel's vehicle was targetted as soon as the officer left this residence in the Chaman Housing Scheme, situated close to other government officials' residences. 

Security officials and rescue teams reached the site after the incident. 

Security officials, including the Bomb Disposal Squad, cordoned off the area and began investigating the nature of the blast. 

Later, the head of the Civil Defence Department said 10-15 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast. He also confirmed that it was a suicide attack. 

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack and hailed the law enforcement agencies' sacrifices in the war on terror. 

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri also strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of the DIG and his driver in the incident, according to Radio Pakistan. 

Police frequent target in Quetta

Police are often targetted in terrorist attacks in Balochistan. 

The last such attack occurred three weeks ago when eight policemen were martyred after unidentified attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their truck.

Over 20 others were wounded in the bombing, according to hospital authorities.

In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead – including seven civilians – and injured at least 20 people.

The blast, which reportedly took place in a vehicle, occurred at the Pishin bus stop, causing cars in the surroundings to catch fire soon after.

In June this year, fourteen people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 injured in a suicide car bombing near the office of the inspector general of police Balochistan on Gulistan Road.

An earlier version of the story had misreported the deceased DIG's rank. The error is regretted.