PESHAWAR: At least 56 worshipers were martyred and over 80 injured in a suicide attack on a shia mosque in Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani Bazaar during Friday prayers.
“We have received 80 injured and 30 dead bodies,” said the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson, Muhamamd Asim. The spokesperson that additional medical personnel have been called and Red Alert has been declared at the hospital.
The Rescue 1122 informed that the injured were being shifted to Lady Reading Hospital through 15 ambulances.
Senior Superintendent of Police Operation Haroon Rashid said that it was apparently a suicide attack in which two a policemen, deployed at the gate of the mosque were also martyred. He said that no threat alert was received about the attack.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif informed that terrorists first tried to enter the mosque and opened on the Police. He informed that during the fire, a terrorist entered the mosque and exploded him suicide vest.
Saif strongly condemned the cowardly act and vowed that they will be dealt with iron hands. Saif said that the security forces have cordoned off the area and started further investigation.
Condemnations
Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast and directed for immediate medical aid to the injured and demanded a report on the incident.
President of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan also strongly condemned the attack. He said that it is alarming that a new wave of unrest spread across the country, including in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The government and the state have failed to protect the citizens. If steps are not taken, the situation will get worse,” Khan said in his statement.
The ANP chief said that targeting innocent civilians during worship is inhumane. He added, “The new wave of terrorism has left the people insecure. The blast in Quetta two days ago and today in Peshawar indicates a worrying situation,”
The ANP KP President Aimal Wali Khan said, “the ANP have repeatedly warned about re-organising of terrorist groups in Pakhtunkhwa but unfortunately, the safety of citizens is not a priority of the state and government.”
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the suicide attack and extended his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the victim families. He said, “Deteriorating law and order situation in the country is a matter of concern,” Sharif said.
Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also strongly condemned the attack and demanded of the government for strict action against terrorism and their facilitators while providing better medical facilities to the injured. Bilawal said that it was unfortunate that the National Action Plan (NAB) was not being implemented.
Minister for health and Finance Taimur Salim Jhagra said also strongly condemned the attack. In a statement, he said that holidays of medical and paramedical staff in Peshawar hospitals have been canceled. Jhagra assured that the government will provide every possible medical treatment to the victims.