[caption id="attachment_2391" align="alignleft" width="800"] Rescue workers and onlookers at the scene of a blast at Alfalah Road in Mastung, Balochistan on Friday.—DawnNewsTV[/caption] At least 52 people were killed - including a police officer - and more than 50 injured in what authorities said was a suicide blast near a mosque in Balochistan's Mastung district of Pakistan on Friday. District Health Officer (DHO) Abdul Razzaq Shahi confirmed the number of casualties to Dawn.com while City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri said a police official was among the dead . However, Dr. Saeed Mirwani, chief executive of Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital, had earlier told Dawn.com that 34 people had died and more than 130 were injured. Shahi said the higher number was due to double occupancy at two hospitals and the number of injured was 50 people. Chief Executive Officer Dr Mirwani confirmed that so far, 28 bodies have been brought to the hospital, while six bodies have been taken to Mastung District Hospital. He said dozens of people are being treated at the hospital while more than 20 injured people have been shifted to Quetta for medical assistance. "The process of moving bodies and injured people continues today," the hospital's general director said. Earlier, Mastung Deputy Commissioner (AC) Attahul Munim said 15 people died due to the blast and more than 50 were injured. He added that the blast occurred when people were gathering to attend the Eid-i-Miladun Nabi procession near Madina Masjid on Alfalah Road. Mastung AC said the blast occurred near the vehicle of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP) Nawaz Gishkori, who was expected to be on the sidelines of the procession. SHO Lehri said the blast was a "suicide blast". Unverified images and videos that emerged after the blast showed several bloody corpses and what looked like severed limbs scattered around as onlookers assessed the damage. Balochistan Acting Information Minister Jan Achakzai said rescue teams have been dispatched to Mastung. He added that seriously injured people are being shifted to Quetta and emergency has been imposed at all hospitals. “The enemy wants to destroy religious tolerance and peace in Balochistan with foreign blessings,” Achakzai said. “The explosion was unbearable.” He added that Acting Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki had ordered authorities to arrest those responsible for the blast. Immediately after the blast, Punjab Police also said its "diligent officers" were carrying out security duties during Friday prayers at mosques in the province. Meanwhile, Karachi Police said Additional Inspector General Khadim Husain Rind has ordered police to maintain "high vigilance" in view of the Mastung blast. He is said to have ordered police officers to increase security measures for Eid-i-Miladun Nabi processions and Friday prayers across the city, as well as monitor any illegal activities. often. Acting Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti strongly condemned the explosion and expressed sadness at the loss of life. Stating that "terrorists have no faith or religion", Bugti asserted that all resources were used in the rescue operation. He added that no effort would be spared to treat the injured and terrorists deserved no concessions. PTI leader Imran Ismail also condemned the blast, saying those who "ended innocent lives are oppressors and terrorists". He hopes the police will soon catch the culprit. Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in an explosion in the same district. A week earlier, a Levies official was shot dead by unidentified men at a bus stop, while two others passing by were injured. Source: Dawn.com