Staff Report
PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Azam Khan, said on Tuesday that the death toll from the suicide bomb blast that rocked the crowded mosque at the Police Lines in Peshawar mounted to 100, with 221 people injured. A rescue operation is underway to retrieve the bodies of other people buried under the debris.
A spokesman of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) also confirmed the death toll.
A suicide bomb blast in a highly secured mosque on Monday at around 1 pm during the Zohr prayers had caused the roof to come crashing down upon the worshipers.
The caretaker Chief Minister revealed that an inquiry committee had been constituted to identify those responsible for this act.
The rescue operation to retrieve dead bodies from the debris of the mosque has been concluded, a spokesperson of Rescue 1122 said.
A preliminary investigation report of the suicide blast has been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Local media reported that evidence found at the site of the explosion indicates that it was a suicide attack.
Investigation into Peshawar blast
According to the report, the roof tumbled down as the pillars collapsed, causing much damage. A high-level investigation committee had been set up to investigate security lapses.
The media quoting the report added that the CCTV footage from the Police Lines gate and family quarters is being investigated.
Addressing during a press conference alongside KP CM Mohammad Azam Khan, Inspector-General Moazzam Jah Ansari said that about 10-12 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.
He said there had been a security lapse, and investigations are in progress to ascertain the facts. “We are checking one-month’s CCTV footage to track the facilitators of the suicide bomber,” he added.
The provincial police chief told that a joint investigation team (JIT) had been notified, and the probe would clear everything soon. He added that those responsible would be identified soon and brought to justice.
He said that the bomber might have entered the area as a guest. He added that last night, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had denied responsibility for the attack.
Earlier, the IG said that there are over 2,000 policemen in the Police Lines working with eight different departments.
He said that many civilians visit this place daily, adding that it also has family quarters. “Construction work was also going on in the locality with workers coming in and going out every day,” he added.
KP CM announces day of mourning
KP CM Khan on Monday announced a day of mourning in the province following the heinous attack.
He said the national flag will be half-mast across the province, adding, “The government shares the grief of the martyrs’ families.”
The interim CM also assured the aggrieved families that the provincial government would not leave them alone in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The ghastly attack triggered an outpour of reactions from the world community over the loss of lives, with leaders affirming their support for Pakistan against terrorism.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deepest condolences over the loss of lives in the Peshawar suicide attack.
