25 killed & 40 injured in Parachinar bomb attack
25 killed & 40 injured in Parachinar bomb attack
Bureau Report
Lead

ISLAMABAD: At least 25 people were killed in a blast at the Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) in Kurram Agency’s Parachinar area on Saturday morning, a district political administration official said.

ISLAMABAD: At least 25 people were killed in a blast at the Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) in Kurram Agency’s Parachinar area on Saturday morning, a district political administration official said.

“At least 25 people have been killed and 49 wounded,” Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali told newsmen.

Ikramullah Khan, a senior government official in Parachinar, said that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) which was hidden in a vegetable box. The explosion was remote-controlled, a bomb disposal squad official said.

Spokesman of the Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Umer Khurasani accepted the responsibility for the Parachinar blast. In a message viral on social media the blast carried out in reaction to the arrests of Asif Choto and Muhammad Ishaque by the law enforcers in Pakistan recently.

Noorullah Khan, an official in Parachinar hospital, said that 11 bodies and more than 40 injured had been taken to the hospital.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the blast took place at 08:50 a.m. The injured were shifted to agency headquarters hospital.

Dr Sabir Hussain at the Parachinar main hospital said 11 critically wounded people died during treatment. He said there are still several people in serious condition who are being shifted to other hospitals for better care.

Government official Shahid Khan said the explosion took place when the market was crowded with retailers buying fruits and vegetables.

Ashiq Hussain, who was lightly wounded, was being treated in Parachinar hospital. He said he was among the people purchasing fruits and vegetables loaded on a van when the explosion took place.

“There was a big bang and a dark cloud of smoke and dust I saw before passing out,” he said.

Hussain said he saw bleeding bodies and severed limbs and heard cries when he came back to his senses. “I was just bleeding from my leg,” he said. “Thank God I am alive.”

“There was no ambulance, and people had to carry the injured in cars and private pickup trucks to the hospital,” Hussain told.

Army personnel and Frontier Corps’s Quick Reaction Force reached the blast site and cordoned off the area. Army helicopters were also flown to the site to evacuate the injured to hospitals, the ISPR said.

According to an ISPR statement, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa directed the troops to make efforts for quick evacuation of the blast victims and ensure they are provided “best medical care”.

“Terrorists will fail in their attempt to regain lost relevance,” Gen Bajwa was quoted as saying.

The names of the 18 persons killed in blast were identified as Israr Hussain s/o Ali Ghulam of Shalozan, Manzar Ali s/o Nazir Ali of Kachkeena, Syed Momin s/o Syed Imam Ali Shah of Mehwara, Tahir Hussain s/o Zakir Hussain of Zargaran Chapper, Sajid Hussain s/o Janan of Zargan Chapper, Shafaat Hussain s/o Marjan Ali of Sara Gullah, Muskar Ali s/o Hussain Ali Yoopra Sari Yousafkhail, Mohsin Ali s/o Ghulam Nabi of Hazara Parachinar, Riasat s/o Muhammad Miskeen of Punjab, two teenager of 10-year-old, and 12-year not identified, Tajam Hussain s/o Dadak Pash Khail, Shujaat s/o Imran Ali Shaloizanb, Baqir Hussain s/o Zakir Hussain of Zarran Chapper, Syed Qadir Shah s/o Syed Nuzrat Shah of Khushi Parachinar, Arif Hussain s/o Khaista Khan of Amir Hamza Colony, Ajmal Hussain s/o Muhammad Qambar of Zaran Chapper and Amjad Ali s/o Muhammad Akbar Shalozan. Three persons, who were killed in the blast, are yet to be identified.

Those injured shifted by Pakistan Army Helicopters including Maqbool s/o Gul Hussain, Muntazer Hussain s/o Nasir Hussain, Gul Hussain, Aqil Shah s/o Badshah, Mesum Ali s/o Haider Ali, Zahoor Hussain, Imtiaz, Jamal Hussain.

MNA Sajid Tori, Senator Haji Sajjad Tori, Sajjad Said Mian and Tori Bangash tribes condemned those involved in the deadly blast planted in an apple cart that killed 21 innocent people and dozens other injured.