DID Press: At least 17 people have been killed and 30 others wounded following a suicide car bombing and a subsequent hours-long armed clash at the residence of a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Khuzdar district of Balochistan province, Pakistani security sources said.
The attack targeted the residence of Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal, a PPP leader, where militants first carried out a suicide bombing using an explosive-laden vehicle before engaging security forces in a gun battle that lasted nearly three hours.
According to security officials, the casualties included security personnel and guards stationed at the residence. Five attackers were also killed during the confrontation with security forces.
Local sources said Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal survived the attack.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement. The attack comes amid a recent rise in armed incidents targeting Pakistani security forces and government officials in Balochistan.