Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani today survived an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber, who killed one person and injured 10 others in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.
Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani today survived an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber, who killed one person and injured 10 others in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.
The attacker initially lobbed a grenade at the chief minister's motorcade as it slowed down to cross a railway crossing at Saryab Road, a key thoroughfare in provincial capital Quetta, but it failed to explode.
The bomber then detonated his suicide vest, police said.
One person was killed while five policemen and as many civilians were injured. Two of the injured were in a serious condition, officials said.
Raisani, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan People's Party, was travelling from his home to the provincial assembly at the time of the attack.
Police officials said the bomber had carefully chosen the spot for the attack as cars usually slowed down to pass the railway crossing.
Police officials said the chief minister was safe and later reached the provincial assembly.
His chief security officer, Muhammad Iftikhar, was among the injured, who were taken to a military hospital for treatment.
Two vehicles in the chief minister's motorcade were slightly damaged in the attack.
The other policemen injured in the attack were personnel of the anti-terrorism squad who were guarding the chief minister.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities usually blame such attacks on anti-government nationalist groups fighting for more political rights and a greater share in Balochistan's resources.
It was the second attack on a top functionary of the Balochistan government in a week.
On November 30, Governor Zulfikar Magsi escaped unhurt in a bomb attack on his motorcade.
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