2017 Jhal Magsi suicide bombing | |
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Part of Terrorism in Pakistan | |
Location | Fatehpur, Jhal Magsi, Balochistan, Pakistan |
Date | 5 October 2017 |
Target | Pir Rakhel Shah shrine |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
Weapons | explosive vest [1] |
Deaths | 20+ [2] |
Injured | 30+ |
On 5 October 2017, a suicide bomber targeted the shrine of Pir Rakhel Shah situated in Fatehpur, a small town in Gandawah tehsil of Jhal Magsi district in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. At least 20 people, including two policemen, were killed and more than 30 others injured in the suicide attack. [1] [3] [4]
The shrine was previously targeted by terrorists more than a decade ago on 19 March 2005. At least 35 people were killed, including both Shia and Sunni devotees, and several injured when a suicide bomber targeted the shrine of Pir Rakhel Shah in 2005. [5] [6] [7]
It was the second deadliest attack on a shrine in Pakistan in 2017. Previously in February 2017, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Sehwan that targeted the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, killing at least 90 people. [3]
In the evening of 5 October 2017, a suicide bomber targeted the Sufi shrine of Pir Rakhel Shah situated in Fatehpur, a small town in Gandawah tehsil of Jhal Magsi district in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. [8] [9] Balochistan government spokesperson, Anwar ul Haq Kakar confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack. [4]
According to Balochistan's Home Secretary Akbar Harifal, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance, after he was intercepted by on-duty police guards outside the shrine. According to him, 18 people including three children and two policemen were killed; and at least 27 others injured, fourteen of them seriously. [10] Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti also confirmed the death toll. Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar said that, the attack took place "at a time when it was packed with people, attending anniversary celebrations of Syed Cheesal Shah". [10] In terms of attendance, thursdays are usually busy at shrines as the day is considered spiritually significant. The explosion took place when the dhamaal was being performed after Isha prayers. [3]
According to Reuters, militant group ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq News Agency. [11]
The security forces reached at the scene after the incident and cordoned-off the area. The provincial health minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch declared a state of emergency at hospitals in Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi and Dera Allah Yar. [10] [1] A heavy contingent of security forces initiated a search operation in the area. The forensic experts collected evidence from the blast site. SSP Jhal Magsi Muhammad Iqbal revealed that ball bearing and legs of the suicide bomber were recovered from the site. [4] [12]
The injured were transferred to District Headquarters Hospital Gandawah, of which eighteen were shifted to Quetta and Larkana for medical treatment. [3] Harifal added that the critically injured patients from the blast were being airlifted to Sindh province in the absence of adequate medical facilities in Balochistan. [10] Dr Rukhsana Magsi, the medical superintendent of the DHQ hospital said that twelve injured have been shifted to hospitals in Sindh's Larkana, Shahdadkot and Jacobabad for treatment of their life-threatening injuries. [1]
President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain condemned the terrorist attack while expressing grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. The President further added that the whole nation is united in the fight against terrorism and such acts cannot shake Pakistan's resolve against this menace. [13] [9]
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the terrorist attack and said that, "terrorists have no religion". He added that the government "will not allow them [terrorists] to disturb our [Pakistan's] peace and values; they will be dealt with the full might of the state". [14]
Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in a tweet sent prayers for the families and victims of the Jhal Magsi blast. He added that the "perpetrators behind such barbaric acts are heartless towards humanity". [9]
Balochistan Home Minister Bugti said that Pakistan shares "a porous border with Afghanistan. Keeping all these factors in mind, our security forces ensured a peaceful Muharram and they will continue to fight terrorism in Balochistan." [3]
The July 2010 Lahore bombings occurred on 1 July 2010 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Sufi shrine, Data Darbar Complex. At least 50 people were killed and 200 others were hurt in the blasts. It was the biggest attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan since 2001.
In 2007, 34 terrorist attacks and clashes, including suicide attacks, killings, and assassinations, resulted in 134 casualties and 245 injuries, according to the PIPS security report. The report states that Pakistan faced 20 suicide attacks during 2007, which killed at least 111, besides injuring another 234 people. The PIPS report shows visible increase in suicide attacks after the siege of Lal Masjid.
This is a list of terrorist attacks in Pakistan in the calendar year 2011.
These are the list of Terrorist attacks in Pakistan in 2010.
In 2006, 30 terrorist attacks, including 10 of a sectarian nature, took place, leaving 100 people dead and 230 others injured.
This is a list of terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2005.
This is a list of terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2016. Pakistan was the 10th most dangerous country by criminality index in 2016.
Persecution of Sufis over the course of centuries has included acts of religious discrimination, persecution, and violence both by Sunni and Shia Muslims, such as destruction of Sufi shrines, tombs and mosques, suppression of Sufi orders, murder, and terrorism against adherents of Sufism in a number of Muslim-majority countries. The Republic of Turkey banned all Sufi orders and abolished their institutions in 1925, after Sufis opposed the new secular order. The Islamic Republic of Iran has harassed Sufis, reportedly for their lack of support for the government doctrine of "governance of the jurist".
Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2017 include, in chronological order:
The Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan was attacked on November 12, 2016. More than 55 people were killed in the attack and another 100 were injured. Several people were killed and injured due to a stampede caused by the blast and scores of injured were transported to the hospital in private vehicles by visitors who survived the attack. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 16 February 2017, a suicide bombing took place inside the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan, Sindh, Pakistan, where pilgrims were performing a Sufi ritual after the evening prayers. At least 90 people were killed and over 300 injured.
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is a codename of a combined military operation by the Pakistani military in support of local law enforcement agencies to disarm and eliminate the terrorist sleeper cells across all states of Pakistan, started on 22 February 2017. The operation is aimed to eliminate the threat of terrorism, and consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in 2014 as a joint military offensive. It is further aimed at ensuring the security of Pakistan's borders. The operation is ongoing active participation from Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Police and other Warfare and Civil Armed Forces managed under the Government of Pakistan. More than 375,000 operations have been carried out against terrorists so far. This operation has been mostly acknowledged after Operation Zarb e Azb.
On 12 May 2017, a suicide bombing targeted the convoy of the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, a JUI (F) member, on the N-25 National Highway in Mastung District, Balochistan, Pakistan. At least 28 people were killed; 40 others were injured, including the Senator. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Haideri.
On 23 June 2017, a series of terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan resulting in 96 dead and over 200 wounded. They included a suicide bombing in Quetta targeting policemen, followed by a double bombing at a market in Parachinar, and the targeted killing of four policemen in Karachi.
On 12 August 2017, a suicide bombing took place near a Pakistan army truck in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, leaving 15 people dead including 8 soldiers, while injuring 40 others. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack.
Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2018 include:
On 13 July 2018, ahead of Pakistan's general election, two bombings took place at election rallies in Bannu and Mastung.
Several violent incidents happened before and on the day of the 2018 Pakistani general election, held on 25 July 2018.
On 29 September 2023, a suicide bombing occurred in the Mastung District of Balochistan, Pakistan during the Eid Milad-ul-Nabi procession, which commemorates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The explosion took place near the Madina Mosque, causing at least 60 deaths and between 50 and 70 injuries. Among the deceased was Mastung's deputy superintendent of police, Nawaz Gashkori. This event is one of several attacks that have occurred in Balochistan over the past decade.
A top district police officer, Mohammad Iqbal, told reporters investigators have retrieved body parts of the bomber and trying to establish his identity.