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26 die in Bhakkar suicide blast
Staff Reporter
Bhakkar—A suicide bomb attack killed at least 26 people in Bhakkar
on Monday, police said.
The blast occurred at the guest house of PML-N parliamentarian
Rashid Akbar Khan Nawani when he was meeting with guests in the city
of Bhakkar, police said.
Khan belongs to Muslim League (N) party of Nawaz Sharif, who was
also injured in the attack. He was shifted to the District
Headquarters Hospital Bhakkar.
At least 80 people were injured in the attack at 5:10 p.m. Doctors
said that several injured were in critical condition and they say
death toll may rise.
Khan’s family said that around 80 guests and youth, seeking
recruitment in the police department, were present at the guest
house when the incident took place.
No group claimed responsibility of the attack.
Bhakkar is a peaceful city but a bomb blast had killed over 30
people in the area some three years ago. Police cordoned off the
area and the people joined the police to shift injured to the
hospital.
Emergency was declared in the local government hospital and a large
number of people rushed to the hospital to donate blood.
Inspector General Punjab, Shaukat Javed said that the blast at the
residence of MNA Rasheed Akbar Nawani was a suicide attack.
He said the suicide bomber blew himself up when the MNA was
exchanging Eid greetings with the guests at his residence.
The IG said that a DNA test of the suicide bomber will be carried
out which might provide clues leading to his identification.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday strongly condemned the suicide
bomb blast at the residence of Member National Assembly Rasheed
Akbar Khan Nawani in Bhakkar, injuring the MNA and killing many
others.
President Zardari in a message expressed deep grief over the loss of
precious lives and condoled with the families of victims. He prayed
to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in peace and grant
recovery to the injured ones.
He said such heinous incidents cannot deter the government’s resolve
to fight against terrorism.
Zardari said the present government is committed to wipe out the
scourge of terrorism, and targeting the people of Pakistan
indiscriminately.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also strongly condemned
the suicide bomb blast that caused loss of lives and injuries.
Gilani in a message expressed deep grief over the loss of precious
lives and condoled with the families of victims.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in peace and
grant recovery to the injured ones.
The Prime Minister has also ordered the Punjab government to
initiate an immediate inquiry into the tragic incident.
Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani also announced financial relief
of Rs300,000 for the heirs of the deceased and Rs100,000 each for
the injured of Bhakkar suicide blast.
Rasheed Akbar Khan Nawani comes from an old political family, and
has succeeded in winning elections from his native constituency of
Bhakkar for many years.
Rasheed Akbar’s brother, Saeed Akbar Nawani, is a member of the
Punjab Assembly, while his brother Hameed Akbar is the district
Nazim. Back in 2002, the Nawani family helped Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain get elected from N-A-74 Bhakkar. This year, they invited
Shahbaz Sharif to run for a seat in the by-elections from a Bhakkar
seat. Shahbaz Sharif was elected unopposed and became Chief
Minister.
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