KHUZDAR: A policeman was martyred in a blast near the Sultan Ibrahim Road in Balochistan’s Khuzdar on Sunday, police said. Khuzdar Station House Officer (SHO) said that the deceased officer was identified as Murad Jamot. He was posted as the SHO of the Counter Terrorism Department in the city.

“As per initial reports, a magnetic bomb was planted in Jamot’s vehicle,” SHO Pindrani said, adding that further investigation was under way.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mir Hussain Lehri said a passerby was also injured in the incident. The wounded and deceased were moved to the District Headquarter Hospital Khuzdar.

The blast site has been cordoned off by police and Frontier Corps personnel, he added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Immediately after the incident was reported, Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki sought a report on the blast and directed officials to conduct an in-depth investigation.

Attacks on security forces deployed for the protection of people are highly condemnable, he said in a statement, directing the police to immediately arrest the perpetrator. CM Domki also extended condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for their patience.

Separately, PPP chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the blast and expressed heartfelt condolences with the deceased officer’s family.

“The nation will never forget the sacrifice of martyred SHO Murad,” he said in a statement issued by the PPP, adding that the sacrifices of police officers and security personnel in the war against terrorism were eternal.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.