The death toll from suicide bombing in Quetta, Balochistan, has reached 18, according to Balochistan’s Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqat. The attack, which occurred at approximately 9:40 PM on Tuesday night, took place near a cemetery, about 500 meters from a gathering that had just concluded. Two police officers were among the dead.

Shafqat, speaking at a press conference at the DIG office in Quetta on Wednesday, stated that the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) insisted on holding the gathering despite heightened security concerns in the city due to Eid Milad un-Nabi. The bomber, whose body has been recovered and is believed to be under 30 years old, used approximately 8 kilograms of explosives.

Despite the deployment of 112 security personnel for the event, Shafqat noted that the government had shown leniency in allowing the gathering to proceed, but maintained a high security alert due to the sensitive nature of Eid Milad un-Nabi. The Chief Minister of Balochistan has announced compensation of 1.5 million rupees for each of the victims’ families. Shafqat declined to release further details, citing operational security procedures.