ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the Peshawar blast incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“I want to assure my nation we will ensure the terrorists responsible for this cowardly barbaric attack are brought to justice,” he stated.
According to the latest reports, at least seven persons have been killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast inside a seminary in Dir Colony, Peshawar on today’s morning.
Federal Information Minister for Information Shibli Faraz also condemned the attack and promised to “bury those with nefarious intentions to destabilize the country”.
“My heart is heavy thinking of the innocent children and their parents,” said former premier Nawaz Sharif.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack.
Terming it a “heartbreaking incident”, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz condoled with the victims and their families.
“Thoughts and prayers are with bereaved families and those who injured,” wrote Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada.
“Once again children are targeted,” tweeted Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.
“In this war, soldiers, politician’s scholars, lawyers, doctors and people from all walks of life have sacrificed their blood.” Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also condemned the incident.
Earlier, Police and rescue service reached the crime scene and launched operations.
KP Police said initial investigations revealed that the time-bomb was planted inside a bag. There were nearly 1,000 children in the seminary at the time of the blast.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Sanaullah Abbasi informed that majority of the victims are children and teachers as the blast took place during classes at the seminary.
He said that initial reports suggest an improvised explosive device (IED)
was used in the blast with four to five kilograms of explosives and ball bearings. The blast ripped through the seminary at a time when Quran class was ongoing.
Witnesses said a man brought a bag inside the seminary, after which the explosion occurred.
The injured and dead bodies were moved to Lady Reading Hospital where at least five are critically wounded. LRH officials confirmed receiving at least seven bodies and over 70 injured. Another 36 were shifted to Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital.
KP Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra also confirmed the death toll. Hospital official said that most of those killed and injured were hit by the ball bearings and some were badly burnt. All of the dead were men aged between 20 and 40, he said.
KP Minister Shaukat Yousufzai stated that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had summoned a meeting to discuss the security situation. He revealed that Quetta and Peshawar were on threat alert following which security had been heightened.
Yousufzai also highlighted that terrorists always aim for soft targets and the seminary staff and children were soft targets. This area has been peaceful for along time,” he added. He said no group has yet claimed responsibility of the attack.
Special Advisor to KPK CM on Information Kamran Bangash regretted the incident and said the injured will be provided all medical facilities. He declared this attack as the second biggest terrorist attack after the APS tragedy.
Bangash recalled that the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had issued a threat alert for religious schools and noted that there was no security officials posted at the seminary. (With input from INP)
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