11 BNP workers killed in blast near Akhtar Mengal’s vehicle in Quetta

QUETTA: At least 11 workers of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) were killed in an explosion near the vehicle of party chief and former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Sariab Road, Quetta, on Tuesday

According to police officials, the blast occurred in close proximity to Mengal’s convoy. Fortunately, the BNP-Mengal chief remained unharmed in the incident.

The powerful explosion, which was heard from a considerable distance, caused panic in the area.

Law enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to the site, where the deceased were shifted to a nearby hospital.

Authorities said the exact nature of the blast is under investigation, while security in the provincial capital has been placed on high alert.

In July, BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal was offloaded from a Dubai-bound flight as his name was included on a no-fly list.

Taking to his X handle, the BNP chief wrote that he was offloaded from the aircraft by immigration staff when traveling from Quetta to Dubai. He added that he was informed that his name had been put on provisional national identification list (PNIL).