Bomb blast rocks Pakistan's Quetta city

A bomb blast in Pakistan has killed 47 people and injured 200 others, The bomb was attached to a motorcycle outside a vegetable market in Quetta. The device was detonated by remote control.

"The Shia community was the target," police officer Wazir Khan Nasir told AFP. 

According to news reports, the explosion took place near a school. Police officials and paramilitary troops have cordoned off the entire area and injured have been rushed to Bolan Med Complex of Quetta amid high security. 

"The blast took place on Kirana road market and it was through a remote controlled device," DIG said. 

However, rescue officials have confirmed that at least 10 people, including women and children were killed in the blast. 
Till now the nature and target of the blast is not clear as media and residents are kept away from the targeted area.

Some eyewitnesses coming from the site told media that the blast destroyed several shops, houses and vehicles. Hospital sources said the death toll may rise further as several people among the injured were in critical condition. 

Yet now no group have claimed the responsibility for the blast. 

Similar attacks in the recent past have been blamed on the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a notorious militant group that often targets Shias. 

On January 10, a twin suicide attack in Quetta killed 92 Hazara Shias, the highest toll in a single attack on Shias, who make up 20 per cent of Pakistan's population of 180 million. 

Following the attack, the federal government imposed Governor's Rule in Balochistan province.