PESHAWAR: At least 25 people embraced martyrdom, while 120 people were injured in a suicide attack inside a mosque in Peshawar’s police lines area on Monday, confirmed Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shafi Ullah Khan.
The explosion took place inside a mosque in police lines and injured 120 people who are being shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
Rescue officials revealed that the blast took place during Zohr prayers, as the suicide bomber was standing in the front row.
They said that the sound of the explosion was so loud that it was heard far away while gunshots were also heard after the blast.
Meanwhile, security officials said that as per preliminary investigation, the attack was a suicide blast.
It was learnt that a portion of the building had collapsed and several people are believed to be under it. Footage from PTV showed police and residents scrambling to remove the debris and carrying wounded people on their shoulders.
Eyewitness account
An eyewitness told the media that he was going to the mosque when the explosion took place.
“It was a powerful explosion. There was smoke everywhere after the blast,” said the eyewitness. He added that when got conscious he saw the roof of the mosque collapse.
“There were at least 120 people in the mosque when the incident took place. It was a suicide blast because the bomber was inside the mosque’s inner courtyard. The Zohr prayers had just started when it happened. There were mostly policemen among the injured,” the eyewitness recalled.
Meanwhile, the President of the Civil Secretariat Association Peshawar Tassavur Iqbal, who regularly prays at the mosque, said that the Police Lines area’s security is always high and no one can enter without showing their identity and body search.
“This is an unfortunate incident that took place here today. This is a big mosque and 400-500 people can offer prayers at a time. We are hearing that the building collapsed after the blast,” said Iqbal.
Medical emergency imposed in KP
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan announced to impose of a medical emergency in major hospitals of Peshawar. The interim CM further directed all rescue organisations to speed up relief activities.
The CM has ordered to ensure immediate measures to transfer the injured to the hospital, directing the concerned authorities to provide timely medical assistance to the injured who are being shifted to hospitals.
The provincial health department announced a “medical emergency” in the city in the wake of the Police Lines Peshawar bomb blast.
“All the doctors and support staff in the government health facilities including MTIs in district Peshawar are directed to remain on red alert to cope with the emergencies, till further orders,” the notification issued in this regard.
Condemnations pour in
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast, adding that the blast inside a mosque proves that those involved in the attack have “nothing to do with Islam.”
“These terrorists are trying to instil fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” he said, assuring the people that the coalition government will take strict action against those involved.
Strongly condemning the terrorist suicide attack, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said: “It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering [and] properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”
The former prime minister shared his prayers and condolences go to the victims’ families.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, condemning the incident, said that strict action will be taken against the terrorists, their backers and facilitators.
Terror incidents before general and by-elections are “meaningful”, he added.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal termed the attack “worst terrorism”.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the minister said: “The aim of such brutal and cowardly attacks is to weaken the nation’s resolve against terrorism, but this resolve will be strengthened by every drop of blood and martyrdom.”
Meanwhile, former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari condemned the incident, saying that the terrorists being active in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is “extremely dangerous”.
He said that the government should end the nurseries of terrorism by following the national action plan.
Former provincial chief minister Mahmood Khan said that the blast was “heartbreaking”.
“The loss of lives is extremely upsetting,” Khan said while praying for the martyrs and for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Calling the blast in Peshawar the “worst act of terrorism”, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz said that the deteriorating law and order situation in KP and the recent incidents of terrorism were very worrying.
He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, high ranks of the martyrs and patience for those who lost their loved ones.
Security on high alert in Islamabad
Following the blast in Peshawar, Inspector-General of Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan issued orders to put security on high alert in the federal capital.
Moreover, checking has been increased at all the entry and exit points in the city while monitoring is being done by Safe City Capital Command and Control Centre Islamabad.
Snipers have also been deployed at important ports and buildings.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
