Initial investigation revealed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used for the explosion which was attached to a motorcycle. Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan condemned the incident and directed authorities to provide best medical treatment to the injured.
Earlier, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had issued a warning that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) could target the religious or political gatherings in Quetta. However, no group has accepted responsibility for the blast till the time of writing these lines.
After the warning of NACTA, the government of Balochistan asked PDM to call off the public meeting, but the opposition alliance chose not to comply. Section 144 was also imposed in Quetta due to the security threat and more than four thousand security personnel were deployed in the provincial capital.