Pakistan: At least two injured in explosion at Quetta cracker shop

Islamabad [Pakistan], August 10 (ANI): At least two people were injured in an explosion at a cracker shop at Quetta’s Moti Ram Road, Dawn reported citing the police on Thursday.

Gawalmandi Station House Officer (SHO) Jawad Shaban said that the initial explosion set off other crackers in the shop, resulting in a fire and leaving two people injured.

He further said that the fire brigade of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation doused the blaze, but the cracker shop was completely destroyed while two others abutting it were partially damaged.

Television footage showed plumes of smoke following the incident and a crowd gathered at the site, as per Dawn.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal squad inspected the shop. The SHO said it was collecting evidence to confirm the cause of the explosion.

Later, Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) retired Captain Zohaib Mohsin reached the site and told the media after the inspection that the explosion was caused by crackers setting off.

“The shop owner had ordered fireworks and crackers in large quantities keeping in view August 14 [celebrations], and they were kept at the rooftop. They exploded due to heat,” Dawn quoted Mohsin as saying.

The official ruled out the involvement of any terror elements in the incident.

Earlier, when the cause of the explosion was not clear, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the incident, terming it a “bomb blast”.

A statement issued by his office said he sought a report from the province’s additional chief secretary and police chief on security measures taken in Balochistan, Dawn reported.