JIT formed to probe Shah Noorani shrine blast

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A seven member joint investigation team (JIT) has been constituted to investigate Shah Noorani blast which left more than 50 people dead and hundreds other injured on Tuesday. The JIT would be headed by Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner, while other members include officials of Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). The officials from Special Branch and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) will also be a part of the JIT and the notification has been issued in this regard. The JIT will carry out investigations and present its report within 30 days. Previously, a huge explosion claimed by militant group Islamic State ripped through a shrine in Khuzdar yesterday, killing more than 53 people and wounding scores. The blast at the Shah Noorani shrine occurred while hundreds of people were inside. Provincial Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said 52 people were killed and that more than 105, including many women and children, were wounded. "Every day, around sunset, there is a dhamaal (ritual dance) here, and there are large numbers of people who come for this," said Nawaz Ali, the shrine's custodian. The shrine is located in Baluchistan province about 100 km (60 miles) north of the port city of Karachi, to where rescue official Hakeem Nasi told Geo TV dozens of wounded were being moved. Many had travelled hundreds of kilometers to pay their respects to the saint and seek blessings. Unlike at mosques in Pakistan, which often limit access to women, in Sufism both genders are permitted to take part in many rituals, though they are sometimes separated by partition walls. Witnesses said problems were compounded by the fact that it took several hours for rescue services to reach the remote shrine, located on a hilltop in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan several kilometers away from surrounding villages, with poor mobile network coverage.