On the afternoon of 29 September 2023, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest amid a religious procession near a mosque in the Mastung area of the southwestern Baluchistan province. Hundreds of people had gathered at the site to participate in the procession to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad. The blast killed at least 52 people and wounded approximately 60 others. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, there has been an increase in violence orchestrated by regional extremist groups as the January 2024 general elections draw nearer.