Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro (MNA Pakistan Peoples Party)

QUETTA: Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd survived a suicide attack on Thursday which killed three people, two security guards and a servant of Mir Kurd.

According to sources, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the minister’s residence soon after he left the house for office.

“Mr Kurd was the target of the suicide bomber,” Inspector General of Police Malik Iqbal told reporters. He said 15kg of high explosives were used in the blast.

Hamid Shakeel, the DIG Operation, told Dawn that initial investigation confirmed that it was a suicide attack. He said limbs of the bomber were found littered over a radius of 500 metres.

According to a witness, the head of the suicide bomber was found in two pieces at the rooftop of a house. He said since it was in bad shape, the bomber could not be identified. The dead were identified as Gul Zaman, Abdul Salam and Takri Usman.

The house and three cars parked inside it were badly damaged by the blast. Windowpanes of many buildings were smashed.

Sources said that just before leaving the house, Mr Kurd was sitting in the guest room of the house and receiving applications from people.

Talking to reporters, Mr Kurd said he had received no threat from anyone. But, he added, he knew who could be behind the attack. “We are tribal people and consider an attack on a house a big crime. We will respond with full force.” — Saleem Shahid
@Sources