Quetta, Jan 12 : A child was critically injured after an explosion in a pile of garbage in Turbat city of Pakistan's Balochistan, and authorities have started an investigation into the incident, local media reported.

The victim, identified as Adil, son of Qadir, a resident of the Fish Market area of Turbat, suffered serious injuries following the blast that occurred in the Jusak area on Friday, The Balochistan Post reported. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Doctors at the hospital said that the child has suffered severe damage in one leg and described his condition as critical. The cause of the explosion has not been determined yet, and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

On January 5, a large number of people held a major protest in Turbat against the rising crime and lawlessness in the Kech district of Balochistan. Hundreds of men and women participated in the protest, organised by All Parties Kech, the tradersâ?? association, doctorsâ?? associations, and civil society organisations, local media reported.

The rally started from Apsar Bazaar and passed through various parts of the city before reaching Shaheed Fida Chowk, where it turned into a massive protest gathering, The Balochistan Post reported. While addressing the protesters, National Party leader and former Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch said that the law and order situation in Kech had become extremely alarming.

He stressed that it was the responsibility of state institutions to ensure the safe recovery of abducted youths - Haseeb Haji Yaseen and Shah Nawaz Gul Jan. He also urged the authorities to fulfil their responsibilities and ensure the protection of people. He further said that impacted families and political leaders had approached all relevant institutions for the past month. However, each authority shifted responsibility onto others.

Kech Bar Association President Advocate Syed Majeed Shah condemned the kidnapping incidents that were happening in the region and said that the bar association did not attend court proceedings as a protest.

Former Senator Ismail Buledi stated that people in Kech and the entire Makran region were facing insecurity. He said that businesses had shut down, sources of livelihood were reducing, and people were being deprived of their basic right to live. He called for protection for traders and people and demanded an end to kidnapping for ransom.

/IANS