The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack at a vegetable and fruit market in Pakistan’s city of Quetta.
The militant group said in a statement on Saturday that oneof its members carried out the suicide attack that killed and injured severalShiite community members and Pakistani troops, Xinhua reported.
There was no official confirmation from the Pakistani sideyet.
Provincial Home Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau told localmedia that at least 20 people, including a soldier of paramilitary troopsFrontier Corps (FC) and two children, were killed while 48 others, includingfour FC personnel, got injured in Friday’s attack.
Deputy Inspector General of Quetta Police Abdul RazzaqCheema said the blast targeted the Hazara community of minority Shiite Muslims,and at least eight people from Hazara community were among the killed.
Shortly after the attack, the Hazara community membersincluding women and children staged a sit-in which continued on Saturday,demanding better security measures from the government.
The protesters demand that the government implement aneffective security plan and ensure protection of the community.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior also sought areport from the Interior Ministry on the action taken so far against terroristsand banned outfits involved in Hazara killings. The committee voiced seriousconcern over the Quetta blast and continued killings of members of the Hazaracommunity.