A bomb has killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more in the Pakistani city of Quetta at a public rally to celebrate a former provincial leader.

The rally was held on Tuesday in Pakistan’s Balochistan province to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Sardar Ataullah Mengal, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) founder, a prominent political party in the region.

Hundreds of members of the BNP attended the event held in the car park of Shahwani Stadium, including the current party leader, Akhtar Mengal.

Government official Hamza Shafaat said the explosion occurred at the conclusion of the gathering.

“The reports we have say that the bomb went off in a parking area as the people were leaving the rally,” he said.

Among those leaving was Mengal, who, according to police, was the target of the attack. He remained unharmed in the blast, however, 30 of his party members were injured.

Mengal confirmed his safety with a post on X.

“I am safe, but deeply heartbroken at the loss of our workers,” he wrote.

Police official Athar Rasheed said it appears to be a suicide bombing.

“Both Islamist militants and Baloch separatist insurgents operate in the region,” he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This follows another attack in Balochistan, near the border with Iran, which resulted in five casualties earlier in the day.

Six soldiers were also killed in a suicide attack on their base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total to at least 22 casualties in bombings in Pakistan yesterday.

The BNP advocates for greater rights and economic support for people of Baloch ethnicity.

Photo: by Jarjan Fisher is available HERE and used under a Creative Commons licence. The image has been cropped.