Quetta: A motorcycle loaded with explosives detonated on Friday near Jan Muhammad Road in Quetta, Balochistan, injuring 10 people, including one security personnel. According to officials, rescue teams and police quickly arrived at the scene and began relief efforts, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have cordoned off the area, while an investigation is underway to determine the cause and nature of the blast. Police officials confirmed that explosive materials were attached to the motorcycle, but further details are yet to be revealed.
Earlier in the day, a separate bomb explosion in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed six people, including Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani, a prominent religious leader and the son of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq Haqqani. The blast occurred at a seminary mosque immediately after Friday prayers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General of Police, Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed that the attack targeted Haqqani.
Recent data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reveals a significant rise in militant attacks across the country in January 2025. There was a 42% increase in attacks compared to December 2024, resulting in 91 deaths, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Additionally, 117 people were injured, including 53 security personnel, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the hardest-hit province, followed by Balochistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27 attacks led to 19 deaths, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants. The tribal districts of KP (formerly FATA) saw 19 attacks, claiming 46 lives. Balochistan also experienced a surge in militant violence, with 24 attacks resulting in 26 deaths, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and nine militants.