A suicide bomber tried to kill Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani in Quetta on Tuesday, damaging his motorcade, officials said. However, the chief minister was unhurt. The blast wounded nine people near the convoy of the chief minister. One person died in the attack, but his identity was not clear and police said they were investigating whether it was the bomber.
A purported spokesman for banned extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility, saying that Raisani had been targeted for efforts to provide security to Shias, who are frequently attacked in Balochistan. "It was a suicide bombing. The convoy of the chief minister was damaged," Quetta administration official Nasim Lehri told a private TV channel. "The target was the chief minister, and most of those injured were policemen," he later told AFP.
Raisani, a wealthy Baloch tribal leader, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was being driven from his home to Provincial Assembly. "The chief minister was the target, but he remained unhurt," police official Salim Lehri told AFP.
"One of the escort cars was damaged and some officials were wounded." Witnesses said the bomber was on foot and that they heard a loud blast as soon as the motorcade passed, kicking up clouds of dust. An AFP reporter saw pieces of human flesh on the ground and a damaged white Toyota Land Cruiser on the roadside with broken windows and shrapnel holes.
Dr Noor Mohammad said nine wounded people, including policemen, were brought to hospital and that two were in serious condition. The convoy was passing a railway crossing in Saryab Road at the time and an unexploded hand grenade was also found nearby, officials said. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi purportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Quetta press club, saying Raisani was targeted for protecting Shias during the holy month of Muharram, which begins on Wednesday. Police said they were investigating the claim, but Raisani also blamed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and said that the attack was a "conspiracy" to antagonise tribes.