16 killed, 20 injured in blast at mosque in Pakistan's Quetta

A powerful blast at a mosque during Friday evening prayers killed at least 16 people, including an Imam and a senior police officer, and left 20 ors injured in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, three days after a bomb explosion claimed two lives in Quetta.

nature of explosion, which occurred inside mosque during Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad neighbourhood, was t immediately kwn.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amanullah was among 16 people killed in incident, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said.

According to some media reports, slain police officer was likely target.

Last month, unidentified gunmen killed DSP's son in Quetta, Express Tribune reported. Twenty ors were also injured in blast, report said. Law enforcement ncies have cordoned off area to investigate incident.

mosque, which is located in a densely-populated Pashtun-majority area, was being searched by bomb disposal squad and security personnel.

Meanwhile, an emergency has been declared at all hospitals in area. TV foot showed debris and shattered glass spread on floor of mosque. one immediately claimed responsibility for blast.

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned attack and regretted loss of lives. He said best possible treatment would be given to injured. Khan also sought a report of incident.

Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said that troops of Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan have reached site and were carrying out joint search operation with police.

"Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted incents in a mosque can never be true Muslim," ISPR quoted army chief General Qamar Bajwa as saying.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned incident and expressed grief at loss of lives.

Reacting to incident, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove condemned it, saying "terrorists were scared of Pakistan's development".

"Internal and external enemies are making failed efforts to create panic and unrest in country," he said in a statement.

Talking about casualties in incident, Langove said death toll might rise as condition of some of injured was critical after y were shifted to Civil Hospital for treatment.

blast occurred three days after two men were killed and over a dozen injured in a blast near a vehicle of security forces in Quetta.

In May last year, a bomb blast at a mosque in provincial capital Quetta killed two people, including a prayer leader and injured 28 ors.

In August, an explosion took place inside a mosque during Friday prayers in city. PTI AYZ IND CPS AKJ RUP