Pakistan: Boy, 13, and mother killed as toy-like device explodes in Multan
Synopsis
A 13-year-old boy in Multan picked up what looked like a speaker from a nearby junkyard — and paid for the mistake with his life and his mother's. The tragedy highlights the persistent danger of abandoned explosive devices filtering into Pakistan's civilian waste streams, where children are the most vulnerable victims.
Key Takeaways
Anas , aged 13 , and his mother Nusrat Bibi were killed when a speaker-shaped explosive device detonated in their home in Multan , Punjab , Pakistan.
The boy had picked up the object from a junkyard near his house , mistaking it for a toy, and was attempting to dismantle it when it exploded.
Multan CPO Akthar Farooq confirmed police have gathered evidence from the blast site and an investigation is underway.
The incident follows a 26 September bombing at the Aman Mela checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed 11 people and injured 20 others .
No group has claimed responsibility for the Multan device, and its origin remains under forensic examination.
A 13-year-old boy and his mother were killed on 12 October when a speaker-shaped object, which the child had mistaken for a toy, exploded inside their home in Multan, Punjab province, Pakistan, according to local media reports. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the presence of unidentified explosive devices in civilian areas.
How the Explosion Occurred
According to police, the boy — identified as Anas — had picked up the suspicious object from a junkyard near his house and brought it into his room, where his mother, Nusrat Bibi, was also present at the time. Officers said Anas appeared to have been attempting to dismantle the device when it detonated, suggesting he had no awareness of its danger.
Both Anas and Nusrat Bibi sustained critical injuries and died on the spot, police said. The device's origin and the circumstances under which it ended up in the junkyard remain under investigation.
What Police Said
Multan City Police Officer (CPO) Akthar Farooq told local daily Dawn that the initial investigation pointed to the boy having retrieved the object from the nearby junkyard. He said the boy could have been inspecting the device when it went off, and that police had collected evidence from the scene. No group has claimed responsibility, and the nature of the explosive material has not yet been officially confirmed.
Pattern of Explosive Incidents in Pakistan
The Multan tragedy follows a series of deadly explosive incidents across Pakistan. On 26 September, at least 11 people were killed and 20 others injured when a bomb struck a police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Rescue officials confirmed the fatalities included eight men, two women, and a child.
That blast occurred at the Aman Mela checkpost, situated near Mughal Kot and Darazinda on the Dera Ismail Khan–Quetta Road, close to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa–Balochistan border. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said the Darazinda station team responded immediately after being alerted, with additional personnel from Karak and Hangu deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.
Wider Safety Concerns
The Multan incident underscores a longstanding concern about the proliferation of discarded or abandoned explosive devices in Pakistan's civilian landscape. Items from conflict zones or past militant activity can find their way into informal waste streams, posing acute danger to children and others who may handle them unknowingly. Authorities have not yet indicated whether any formal warnings will be issued to communities near junkyards or scrap yards in the region.
Investigators are expected to file further findings as forensic examination of the recovered evidence continues.
Point of View
Where discarded ordnance or improvised devices migrate into scrap markets and junkyards, becoming lethal curiosities for children. The absence of any announced community warning programme after this incident is telling. Until authorities treat informal waste sites near historically volatile corridors as active hazard zones, more Anases will pick up the wrong object.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Multan explosion in Pakistan?
A 13-year-old boy named Anas picked up a speaker-shaped object from a junkyard near his home in Multan and brought it inside, where he and his mother Nusrat Bibi were killed when the device exploded as he tried to dismantle it. The incident occurred on 12 October in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Who were the victims of the Multan toy-like device explosion?
The victims were Anas, a 13-year-old boy, and his mother Nusrat Bibi. Both died on the spot after sustaining critical injuries when the explosive device detonated in their room.
Where did the explosive device come from?
According to Multan City Police Officer Akthar Farooq, the initial investigation suggests the boy picked up the object from a nearby junkyard, mistaking it for a toy. The device's precise origin and how it ended up in the junkyard remain under investigation.
Is there a pattern of such explosive incidents in Pakistan?
Yes. On 26 September, at least 11 people were killed and 20 injured in a bomb attack on a police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has seen repeated incidents involving abandoned or improvised explosive devices in civilian areas, raising concerns about how such materials enter informal waste streams.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have collected forensic evidence from the blast site in Multan. CPO Akthar Farooq confirmed the probe is ongoing, but no group has claimed responsibility and the nature of the explosive material has not yet been officially disclosed.
