Pakistan's Senate deputy chairman today escaped an assassination bid with injuries when an Islamic State suicide bomber targeted his convoy, killing 25 people and wounding 45 others in the restive Balochistan province.<br/><br/>The bomber targeted Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri when he came out of a mosque after addressing a gathering shortly after the Friday prayers in Mastung area of the province.<br/>The area where the explosion took place is approximately 70 kilometres from provincial capital Quetta.Balochistan government spokesman Anwar-ul- Haq said, it was a powerful blast and 25 people have been killed with 45 injured.<br/><br/>The Islamic State took responsibility for the attack on its official Amaq News Agency.The blast took place as Haideri's convoy left the local seminary where he was invited for a function.<br/><br/>Kakar said Haideri was not in the car which the bomber targeted. However, Senate director staff Ifthikar Mughal was killed along with the the driver and two associates of the Deputy Chairman Senate.<br/><br/>The Deputy Medical Superintendent at the Mastung Civil Hospital said most of the people killed were workers of the Jamiat-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-Fazal group). District Police Officer Muhammad Ghazanfar said that initial evidence suggests it was a suicide attack.

In Pakistan, at least 25 people have been killed in an explosion in Balochistan province which appears to have targeted a top lawmaker. The blast took place near a convoy carrying Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the deputy chairman of Pakistan's Upper House, as it left a mosque in Mastung. <br/><br/>Police official Safar Khan said it was not clear whether it was a bomb or a suicide attack. Many other people were reported to have been injured in the blast.<br/><br/>Senator Haideri said he sustained minor injuries. The most severely injured were air-lifted to hospital in the provincial capital, Quetta.<br/><br/>Senator Haideri represents the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) party and most of those injured or killed were party workers. Pakistani media reports said it was not clear who carried out the attack. Separatist militants have been fighting in Balochistan for decades. Islamist extremist groups also operate in the province.