Quetta (PTI): Top Pakistani cricketers, including captain Babar Azam and Shahid Afridi, among others, were taken to the safety of the dressing room after a terror attack a few miles down the road where they were playing on Sunday.
An exhibition match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Nawab Akbar Bugti Stadium was halted for some time following an explosion in the Police Lines area, which left five people injured.
A senior police officer said that rescue work had been completed at the site and the injured had been taken to hospital.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Sunday. It stated that the security officials were targeted in the blast.
The exhibition match between PSL sides Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi was organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after pressure from Baloch fans that Quetta also get the status of a PSL venue.
"As soon as the explosion happened, as a precautionary measure, the match was stopped and players taken to the dressing room for a while. Later, after the green signal, the match resumed," the police official said.
The ground was packed for the match.
Sports activity in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, has come to a standstill for the last several years due to fragile security situation and the constant threat of terror attacks.
It is not clear what was the nature of the explosion.
The TTP has stepped up terror attacks in recent days. Last week, 80 people were killed and scores injured in a suicide attack in the police lines in Peshawar.
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The Abu Dhabi Sahebaan Community, a prominent social group representing the Urdu-speaking Muslim community from the twin districts of DK and Udupi, hosted a grand Iftaar get-together at the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC), Abu Dhabi, for community members and their families on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
After an initial round of networking, the event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Master Anas Ahmed, followed by a religious talk by visiting Moulana Janab Sayeed Zainul Abideen Thangal.
The gathering was welcomed by Althaf M.S., who also spoke about the rich legacy of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi Iftaars. These events provide a platform for Sahebaan Community members and their families to not only partake in Iftar but also to connect and enjoy the camaraderie with fellow community members.
Prominent personalities from the Beary community, along with BWF members Mr. Abdulla Madumoole, Abdul Majeed, Mohammed Kallapu, and other Excom members, were present.
The event was well attended, with distinguished Sahebaan guests from other emirates and India as well, including Janab Nasir Syed, M I Jameel (Retd Superintendent of Police, Karnataka) and others.
Sahebaan community well-wishers, namely Janab Abu Mohammed, Adil Shamshuddin, Abdul Rahim Dawood, Rizwan Aziz, Akram Mohd, Irfan Abdul Rahim Sheikh, Yunus Sheik, K. Mohd Ansar, Adil Hussain, Amjad Khalife, Mohd Asif, Arshad Ahmed, Ajmal Mohd, CA Hanif Mohd, Rahiman Baig, Rafique Ahmed, Sajid Ansar, CA Samiulla Mohd, Ajmal Jamal, Mohsin Shaikh, Tabrez Vanti, Ansar Byndoor, and Althaf M S, supported the program.
Team Sahebaan, along with volunteers Akbar Ali, Imdadulla, Rihyaz, supported by an energetic young Sahebaan Volunteers team, ensured the success of the program.
The program was compered by Mohd Ajmal Jamal, with IT support provided by Faizan Khateeb and guest welcoming done by Mohd. Jabir.
Team Sahebaan Abu Dhabi thanked all the members of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi for attending the event and for their wholehearted support.