From Dawn and the Pakistan Daily Times

QUETTA: At least 56 people were killed and about 160 others injured here on Friday when a suicide bomber struck a procession brought out to mark the Al Quds day.

Soon after the blast some armed men in the procession started firing into the air, triggering chaos and panic. People fled or lay on the ground to avoid the gunfire. All shopping centres and business establishments shuttered down in no time after an angry mob set on fire several vehicles and ransacked some shops.  They also attacked DSNGs of different TV channels and fired at the Aaj van, killing its driver. Three policemen were injured. 

Calling from an undisclosed location, a spokesman of the banned Lashkaar-e-Janghvi, claimed responsibility for the attack and warned that the group would "carry out more attacks if Shias continue to take out processions and hold gatherings". A spokesman identified the bomber as 22-year-old Arshad Muavia. But according to a report from tribal areas, a spokesman of the Tehril-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Imamia Students' Organisation had organised the rally that started from Islam Imambargah, located on the Prince Road, soon after the Friday prayers to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. Hundreds of people joined the rally as it moved towards the centre of the city.

"Police tried to stop the rally near Mali Bagh and asked the participants not to proceed any further, owing to security concerns. However, nobody listened to us," said City police Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Asif, adding that the participants did not follow the route that had been approved by the police. "We had earlier told them that no officers were deployed in Mezan Chowk and they should follow the given route. But they did not follow the instructions," he said.

A number of young men, who were at the head of the procession, removed police barricades and continued to march forward. When the procession reached Mezan Chowk, the suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest.  As result of the huge blast, 25 people were killed instantly, and human limbs were scattered everywhere. A number of motorcycles parked nearby caught fire, sending up plumes of black smoke.

"It was a suicide attack," Balochistan home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani told Dawn. He said that organisers of the procession had been alerted to the threat.  Bomb disposal squad officials said the device packed 15 kilograms of explosives. The impact of the blast smashed windows of a number of shops and buildings.

Police found limbs of the bomber and sent them for forensic tests.  Police later found the head of the suspected suicide bomber, who was said to be between 25 to 30 years of age.