Dozens dead after blast in southwestern Pakistan at a rally celebrating birthday of Islam's prophet
Police and a health official in Pakistan say a powerful bomb has exploded near a mosque at a rally celebrating the birthday of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, killing at least 52 people and injuring nearly 70 others QUETTA, Pakistan -- A powerful bomb exploded near a mosque at a rally celebrating the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 52 people and injuring nearly 70 others, police and a government official said. The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan province, where around 500 people had gathered for a procession to celebrate the birth anniversary of the prophet. Muslims hold rallies and distribute free meals to people on the occasion, which is known as Mawlid an-Nabi. TV footage and videos on the social media showed an open area near a mosque strewn with the shoes of the dead and wounded after the bombing. Some of the bodies had been covered with bedsheets, and residents and rescuers were seen rushing the wounde...