PARACHINAR: At least 25 people were killed and 87 injured in a bomb blast at vegetable market in Parachinar of Khurram Agency, officials said Saturday.
According to the political administration, the bomb blast took place at Eidgah market. The blast took place at 8:50am when a large number of people were busy shopping in the vegetable market located in Parachinar area of Kurram Agency, a semi-autonomous tribal region along Pakistan-Afghanistan border. As a result, 25 people were killed while scores of others were injured in the attack.
The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where several of them are said to be in critical condition. Security forces have cordoned off the area and an operation is underway to determine and apprehend the culprits involved. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
An eye witness claimed that at the time of the blast, a large number of people were present at the Sabzi Mandi, which is located inside the Eidgah market. The bomb blast had been caused by an IED and had occurred at 08:50 am on Saturday morning.
The political administration had its security system in place. Check posts were installed at various locations in the city, as well as its entrance, where vehicles are searched for any explosive material.
According to the ISPR, army helicopters were shifting the injured to hospitals for medical treatment. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are conducting a search operation. The helicopters were shifting the injured from Parachinar to the CMH and LRH hospitals in Peshawar. Sources disclosed that each helicopter had a capacity of transporting 10-15 injured persons.
This is reportedly the fourth time that a bomb blast has taken place in the same area. Three blasts have previously taken place at the same location over a couple of years. President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have expressed their deep grief over loss of precious lives in the deadly blast.
Expressing their condolences for the departed souls, they directed for urgent medical assistance to the injured. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over loss of precious lives in the blast. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also condemned the blast and sympathized with the bereaved families. Expressing condolence over the incident Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminate the last terrorist from the country. She said the enemies of peace in the country will be dealt with iron hands. The Minister of State said such cowardly attacks cannot dent the resolve of the nation against the menace of terrorism. NNI
