Pakistan suicide bombing kills 59, injures 160, police say

By the CNN Wire Staff

September 3, 2010 -- Updated 1531 GMT (2331 HKT)

Blast at rally in Pakistan

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: The bombing occurred in Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan
• NEW: The attack took place during a rally protesting Israel's treatment of Palestinians
• NEW: A separate bombing in northwestern Pakistan killed two and injured four

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suicide bomb Friday in southwestern Pakistan killed 59 people and wounded 160, police said.

The blast in the city of Quetta occurred during an Al Quds day rally, an annual event in the Arab and Muslim world that criticizes Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

Dramatic television images showed what appeared to be the blast, followed by heavy gunfire and people dispersing. Images also showed many casualties being treated.

In an apparently unrelated incident in northwestern Pakistan, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside an Ahmadi worship place Friday, killing himself and a pedestrian, police said.

The incident occurred in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Waqif Khan, Mardan police chief, said guards fired on the suicide bomber when he tried to breach the site's security barrier. After he was injured, the attacker detonated his explosives.

Four other people were injured in the attack.

Ahmadis, who call themselves Muslims, are considered heretical and have been persecuted in the Muslim world. Recently, there was fighting between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia.

Sunni and Shiites do not consider the Ahmadis part of Islam because they do not regard Mohammed as the last prophet sent by God. As such, they have been targeted by Islamic extremists.

Pakistan's population is largely Sunni Muslim.

Journalist Nasir Habib contributed to this report. (CNN)