QUETTA
\nJamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq on Friday narrowly escaped a \u201csuicide attack\u201d that targeted his convoy in Balochistan\u2019s Zhob while six others were injured, according to police.
\nCity police station Station House Officer (SHO) Sher Ali Mandokhail told meidia that all of the injured were being treated at Civil Hospital, Zhob and one of them was in critical condition.
\nHe said Haq\u2019s vehicle was partly damaged in the incident while the JI emir remained unhurt.
\nThe official added that a body found at the site of the blast was of the \u201csuicide attacker\u201d.
\nIn a tweet, the JI also said that Haq \u2014 who was visiting the area to address a political gathering \u2014 was safe and that the attacker had been killed.
\n\u201cJI emir Siraj reached Quetta yesterday and had to go further to Zhob where he has a political gathering today. When he was entering Zhob and people were welcoming him, a person came and blew himself up,\u201d party spokesperson Qaisar Sharif said in a video message.
\n\u201cEverybody was safe in the suicide attack and there was no loss of lives. According to initial information, only some cars have been damaged and a few people have sustained injuries.\u201d
\n\u201cThe JI leadership is safe,\u201d he added.
\nAccording to SHO Mandokhail, Haq insisted on going to the venue of his political gathering after the blast. \u201cHe was given a clearance after additional police and law enforcement personal were deployed.\u201d
\nThe official said Zhob Assistant Commissioner Hafiz Tariq had been assigned the JI\u2019s security.
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif \u201cstrongly\u201d condemned the suicide attack, saying he had directed the Balochistan government to investigate the attack from all angles and bring the perpetrators to justice.
\nMeanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed grief over the suicide blast.
\n\u201cWe are grateful to Allah who protected the emir of JI and his colleagues,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is deeply regretted that five people were injured in the incident.\u201d
\nHe said terrorists wanted to achieve their evil goals by spreading fear and insecurity in the province, adding that militants and their patrons will not be allowed to succeed.
\nNational Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani also condemned the incident, expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives.
\nThey prayed for the victims and extended their condolences to the bereaved, according to a statement on the NA\u2019s Twitter.
\nIn his condemnation, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari called for the arrest of the planners of the attack.
\nHe extended his wishes to Haq and prayed for the fast recovery of the injured, a statement on the PPP\u2019s Twitter said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
QUETTA Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq on Friday narrowly escaped a \u201csuicide attack\u201d that targeted his convoy in Balochistan\u2019s Zhob while six others were injured, according to police. City police station Station House Officer (SHO) Sher Ali Mandokhail told meidia that all of the injured were being treated at Civil Hospital, Zhob and one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-332247","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n