Quetta, January 12:
A child was critically injured after an explosion occurred in a pile of garbage in Turbat city of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident, according to local media reports.
The victim, identified as Adil, son of Qadir and a resident of the Fish Market area of Turbat, sustained serious injuries in the blast, which took place in the Jusak area on Friday. The Balochistan Post reported that the child was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Doctors attending him stated that Adil suffered severe damage to one of his legs and described his condition as critical.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, and security agencies have begun probing the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials have not ruled out any possibilities, including the presence of explosive material in the garbage pile, as investigations continue.
The incident has further heightened public anxiety in Turbat and surrounding areas, where concerns over deteriorating law and order have been mounting. Just a week earlier, on January 5, a large-scale protest was held in Turbat against rising crime, kidnappings, and lawlessness in the Kech district of Balochistan. The protest was organised by All Parties Kech, traders’ associations, doctors’ bodies, and various civil society organisations, drawing hundreds of men and women.
The rally began at Apsar Bazaar and passed through key areas of the city before culminating at Shaheed Fida Chowk, where it turned into a massive public gathering. Addressing the protesters, National Party leader and former Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch described the law and order situation in Kech as extremely alarming. He urged state institutions to ensure the safe recovery of abducted youths, including Haseeb Haji Yaseen and Shah Nawaz Gul Jan.
Other speakers, including Kech Bar Association President Advocate Syed Majeed Shah and former Senator Ismail Buledi, condemned the ongoing insecurity, kidnappings, and impact on livelihoods. They demanded urgent action to restore safety, protect citizens, and end kidnapping-for-ransom activities in the region.
