Quetta (Pakistan), July 10: A provincial minister resigned after the government refused to dismiss the province's police chief following last week's attack on a mosque that killed more than 50 minority Shiite Muslim worshippers, his spokesman said today. Baluchistan interior minister Sanaullah Zehri handed his resignation to the government earlier this week, spokesman Ali Jan said. About 30 people have been detained thus far in the investigation into last Friday's mosque attack in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province.

The city police chief and two other police officials have been dismissed. However, the government has retained provincial police chief Shoaib Suddle, who has refused comment. Pakistan is offering a reward of 2 million rupees (USD 34,500) for information leading to the arrest of those who organised the attack.

Two of the assailants died in a shootout with guards at the mosque. A third blew himself up inside the mosque.

The attack targeted mostly ethnic Hazaras who live in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Bureau Report