The blast, followed by firing was heard after president of Balochistan Bar Association (BA) Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Quetta.

A heavy contingent of Frontier Corps and police arrived and cordoned off the area. According to police and rescue officials, the bomb exploded as lawyers brought Advocate Kasi to the hospital.

Advocate Kasi was targeted by two unidentified gunmen who opened fire on his car near Quetta’s Mengal Chowk on Mannu Jan road. The president was shifted to Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

Several lawyers, including former president of Balochistan BA Advocate Baz Muhammad Kakar, was reported injured in the explosion and aerial firing could still be heard near the hospital’s emergency’s ward.

According to reports, Aaj TV journalist Shehzad Ahmed was also killed in the blast, while Dawn News cameraman was critically injured.

Following the incident, emergency has been declared in hospitals across Quetta. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for either attack.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast, Radio Pakistan reported.

Deploring the loss of precious lives in the incident, PM Nawaz directed concerned authorities to maintain utmost vigilance and beef up security for the legal fraternity and members of civil society.

The premier said no one will be allowed to disturb peace in the province that has been restored due to countless sacrifices of security forces, police and the people of Balochistan.

President Mamoon and PM Nawaz directed for provision of best treatment to those injured in the attack. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has also condemned the blast.

(Feature image for representation/ source: AFP)