New Delhi: On Friday, several media reports surfaced claiming that a significant explosion had been heard in the vicinity of Pakistan’s atomic commission office located in the Dera Ghazi Khan area of Punjab province. It’s important to note that Pakistan maintains a stockpile of uranium in Dera Ghazi Khan, and it houses the country’s largest nuclear center.
The reported blast was so intense that it was heard from a considerable distance, approximately 30-50 kilometers away, in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
This sudden noise created panic among the local residents, with videos circulating on social media depicting people vacating the area while rescue teams and law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene.
As speculations started circulating, suggesting the possibility of a nuclear explosion or a mishap during a Shaheen missile test, Commissioner of Dera Ghazi Khan, Nasir Mahmood Bashir, clarified that the “blasts” were, in fact, a result of Pakistani Air Force fighter jets breaking the sound barrier.
According to the commissioner’s spokesperson, Mazhar Sheerani, there were no reports of terrorism, vandalism, accidents, or damages related to this incident. He further stated, “Concerned departments have presented an initial report after investigation.”
This incident comes merely 48 hours after two suicide bombings occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, within a few hours of each other, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 65 lives.
In Balochistan, the detonation took place near a mosque when a suicide bomber activated his explosives near a police vehicle. People had assembled for a procession commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. Similarly, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the blast occurred within a mosque.
This development has raised concerns both nationally and internationally, given Pakistan’s significance in the region as a nuclear power. The situation remains under investigation as authorities work to provide a clear understanding of the incident.
