At least ten people are dead and more than a dozen injured after a bomb exploded near a police station in the city of Peshawar.
PESHAWAR – At least ten people were killed on Tuesday when a bomber targeted security check-post near Karkhano Market in Peshawar. The explosion came amidst a traffic jam on the outskirts of the city, on the road that links the town with the restive Khyber tribal region.
The market is one of the busiest areas of the provincial capital, and Karkhano is tribal belt’s gateway to Peshawar.
A large contingent of police and security personnel had reached the location on Jamrud Road, the main highway that links Peshawar to Jamrud in the tribal areas.
The bodies and injured were taken to the nearby Hayatabad Medical Complex, while additional police force was dispatched to the site of the blast. According to sources, the President of the FATA Journalists Union Mehboob Shah Afridi was also killed in the explosion.
A spokesperson at the Hayatabad Medical Complex said the hospital had received six bodies, including that of a child.
“Its sad and tragic. It’s not about Muslims – the act is inhuman,” said ANP’s Zahid Khan while talking to media. “Our province has especially been targeted; target-killings are a usual course here. But government is not taking any action.”
“People of Peshawar were happy because there has been peace recently,” JI Chief Siraj ul Haq said. “But today’s incident will have deep implications on overall security situations,” he added. “We cannot undo this incident, but on the whole situation is getting better.”
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has condemned the attacks and offered support for the family of victims.
PTI Chief Imran Khan too offered his condolence and said, “It’s sad to face loss of precious human lives.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also flayed attack on security check post in Peshawar and said unity and democracy will defeat terrorism. He expressed deep sorrow and sympathy with bereaved family, who lost their beloved ones in attack on security force check post.