JI leader Sirajul Haq escapes Zhob assassination attempt
ZHOB: A suicide blast targeted the convoy of Sirajul Haq, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), as he was traveling to a rally in Zhob, Balochistan. The blast resulted in injuries to seven individuals, confirmed by police officials and party leaders on Friday.
Fortunately, Sirajul Haq remained unharmed during the incident, according to Ameerul Azeem, the JI’s general secretary. The JI stated via their official Twitter account that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who was subsequently killed. They also reported that four out of the seven injured workers were in critical condition. Despite the attack, Haq was determined to address the rally as scheduled.
Video footage captured smoke rising near the vehicle that purportedly carried the JI chief. As the smoke dissipated, the lifeless body of the alleged attacker became visible. Saleem Safi, a journalist, spoke with Haq, who confirmed that he and the people in his vehicle were safe. However, seven accompanying workers had sustained injuries.
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The JI spokesperson, Qaiser Sharif, mentioned that several vehicles had been damaged as well. Haq had arrived in Quetta earlier in the day, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome him as he entered Zhob. It was revealed that the suicide attacker had also been among the crowd.
Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo denounced the attack and expressed sorrow over the injuries. He emphasized that terrorists aimed to create unrest and disrupt peace, but their impure objectives would not succeed. The incident occurred amidst a surge in terrorism across the nation, prompting heightened security operations by the forces to combat militants.
