Quetta Blast: 54 killed

Suicide bombings targeting religious minorities killed at least 54 people including AAJ News driver in Quetta.  160 people were wounded and several were in critical condition.  on Friday, sharply driving up the toll of sectarian assaults in a country already battered by massive flooding. A blast killed at least 54 people in the southwestern city of Quetta at a Shiite procession calling for solidarity with Palestinians, Police Chief Protesters dragged wounded people into private cars as burning motorcycles sent clouds of black smoke billowing through the streets. The bodies of the dead and wounded lay strewn across the road. Some Shiite youths fired in the air after the blast, and Qazi Abdul Wahid, a senior police official, said officers were trying to control the situation. Shiite leader Allama Abbas Kumaili appealed to participants to remain peaceful. “We understand these are attempts to set Sunni and Shiite sects against each other,” he said.