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“Devastating Tragedy in Pakistan: 52 Lives Lost in Procession Explosion

At least 52 people have been killed, and 90 more injured, after a powerful blast ripped through a religious procession in a restive region of south west Pakistan. The incident happened in Mastung city in Balochistan province on Thursday. The civilians were participating in a Muharram procession when the explosion occurred. The Sunni Muslim procession involved the symbolic re-enactment of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. Spokesperson for the provincial government, Liaquat Shahwani, said the blast “was an act of terrorism and seems to be a suicide attack.” Many of the injured were sent to a nearby hospital, but the Governor of Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan expressed concern over the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the injury to people”, he said. He also informed that an inquiry had been set up to investigate the incident. The attack is the latest in a series of targeted killings and bombings in Balochistan. In the past, terrorists have targeted the Shia Hazara community which has endured a decade of violence. However, the motive of the terror group behind Thursday’s blast is yet to be ascertained. Pakistan has done its best to curb the menace of terrorism. The implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to tackle terrorism has resulted in an overall decrease in the incidents of terrorist activity throughout the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack in a statement, saying: “The perpetrators behind this incident are enemies of humanity and our religion. They deserve the harshest condemnation and realization of justice. We will not be cowed down by their cowardice. Our war against terrorism continues.” The International community also echoed the PM’s statement, offering their condolences to the survivors of the blast and their families. The incident demonstrates the precarious security situation prevailing in Pakistan and the need for the government to come up with policies to tackle the menace of terrorism. The citizens of Pakistan are now counting on their government to ensure that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are brought to justice.