QUETTA : Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has described August 8 as the “darkest day in the history of Balochistan,” as the province marked the 10th anniversary of the devastating Civil Hospital Quetta tragedy that claimed dozens of lives, including prominent lawyers and journalists .
In a message issued on the solemn occasion, the Chief Minister paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs, stressing that their sacrifices can never be forgotten and that the wounds of that fateful day remain fresh in the hearts of the people .
Terrorism, he said, had robbed Balochistan of its most valuable and talented individuals. The Civil Hospital attack, he added, inflicted irreparable loss on the province by taking away renowned lawyers, journalists, and other precious human lives .
CM Bugti emphasized that the people of Balochistan and state institutions have made unparalleled sacrifices in the war against terrorism, vowing that the martyrs’ sacrifices will not go in vain . He reaffirmed the provincial government’s determination to ensure peace, stability, and the protection of its citizens, pledging that operations against terrorism would continue with full force .
“We pay tribute to all the martyrs of the August 8 tragedy,” the Chief Minister said. “May Allah Almighty elevate the ranks of the martyrs and grant patience to their families.”
The August 8, 2016 attack occurred when a suicide bomber struck a gathering of lawyers and journalists who had assembled at Quetta’s Civil Hospital to mourn the assassination of Balochistan Bar Association president Bilal Anwar Kasi . The blast killed dozens and left many others injured, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the province’s history .
