Death toll rises to 25 in blast near mosque in Balochistan

The death toll in blast near a mosque in Balochistan's Mastung area on Friday has risen to 25.

Geo News quoted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) leader Maulana Abdul Malik, as saying that Deputy Chairman Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri had been injured in the incident.

He added that the bomb was targeted at a vehicle carrying Haideri.

Geo News, quoting sources, said Haideri has been shifted to a civil hospital.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed his concern for the well-being of Maulana Haideri.

Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan also condemned the attack.

Terming the blast as a coward act, Rabbani said that terrorists cannot deter nation's resolve against militancy by carrying out such attacks.

Condemning the attack, President Mamnoon Hussain expressed the state's resolve to protect the public by completely eradicating terrorism from the country.

The president prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the blast.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi also condemned the blast and expressed their grief over the loss of precious lives.

Malala Yousufzai also condemned the attack and said that terrorists want to weaken Pakistan through their heinous acts but Pakistanis will stand united against terrorism and extremism.