QUETTA: Two police officials were martyred in a bomb explosion in the Kuchlak area, some 25km from the capital of Balochistan, on Saturday.

Officials said an improvised explosive device planted along the Quetta-Chaman highway went off when a police patrol was passing through the area, claiming two lives and destroying its front portion.

Sources said the police officials were deployed to keep an eye on smuggling of Iranian petrol.

Kuchlak SP Shoukat Ali said: `Two police officials an assistant subinspector and a constable were martyred on the spot.

Both officials were in the front seat at the time of the explosion, said another police official, Ajab Khan, adding that the police vehicle was the target ofterrorists.

Soon after the explosion, police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site and shifted the bodies to hospital.

Later, a bomb disposal squad also visited the blast site and collected evidence.

`It was a terrorist act, which could not be ignored,` police said, adding that it seemed the IED was detonated with a remote control.

Further investigation was underway.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.

Additional chief secretary for home affairs, inspector general of police, DIG Quetta, SSP Quetta and other senior police officers later attended the funeral of officials at the central police office.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the bomb attack and expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyred police officers.

The PM said those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice as soon as possible.