Pak: Death toll in Peshawar blast rises to 63, Tehreek-e-Taliban took responsibility for the attack

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The suicide bomber, who was sitting in the front row, detonated his explosives when worshipers were offering zohar (afternoon) prayers near the Police Lines area at around 1.40 pm, officials said.

In Pakistan, the death toll in the blast in the mosque of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has increased to 63 while 157 people have been injured. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials said the suicide bombers sitting in the front row were offering zohar (noon) prayers near Police Lines area at around 1.40 pm. The attacker blew himself up. After the explosion, the roof of the mosque fell on the worshippers. Among the worshipers were police, army and bomb disposal squad personnel. Between 300 and 400 police officers were present in the area at the time of the explosion. A senior official said there was definitely a security lapse. At least five sub-inspectors and the mosque’s imam Maulana Sahibzada Noorul Amin were among the dead.

Officials at the Lady Reading Hospital said more than 150 people were injured. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. He said the suicide attack was in revenge for the death of TTP commander Umar Khalid Khursani who was killed in Afghanistan in August last year. A police official said a portion of the mosque collapsed in the blast and several people were believed to be trapped under its debris. Bilal Faizi, the in-charge of the rescue operation, said, “At the moment our focus is on the rescue operation. Our first priority is to bring out the people trapped under the debris safely.

According to the police, the bomber entered the four-tier security mosque inside the police lines. Provincial police chief Muazzam Jah Ansari said police were investigating the blast and trying to find out how the bomber entered the high-security mosque. He expressed apprehension that the bomber might have been living in the police lines before the blast as there were ‘family quarters’ inside the police lines. The headquarters of Peshawar Police, Counter-Terrorism Department, Frontier Reserve Police, Elite Force and Communications Department are also near the blast site.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir reached Peshawar to review relief and rescue operations. The Prime Minister also visited Lady Reading Hospital here along with the Army Chief and inquired about the health of the injured. Home Minister Rana Sanaullah and other officials were also present during this period. The Prime Minister called an emergency meeting where the preliminary inquiry report was presented. Inspector General of Police Ansari said he did not know where the bomber came from and how he got inside the police lines. Peshawar’s Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Shahzad Kaukab told the media that the blast took place when he had just entered the mosque to offer prayers, but luckily he survived. His office is near the mosque. A mass cremation of the 27 dead was performed at Police Lines in the evening.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, saying that the attackers behind the incident “have nothing to do with Islam”. Want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of protecting Pakistan. He said that the martyrdom of those killed in the blast will not go in vain. “The entire nation is united in the fight against this menace of terrorism,” he said. Sharif said a holistic strategy would be adopted to combat the deteriorating law and order situation in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the federal government would help the provinces to strengthen their anti-terrorist capability. Will help increase Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the attack, saying that “terrorist incidents have a clear meaning ahead of local and general elections”.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali condemned the blast and appealed to the people to donate blood for the injured. He said it would be a “great kindness to the police.” Officials said the bodies and the injured were taken to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital. Emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Peshawar. The hospital administration has appealed people to donate blood. After the blast in Peshawar, security has been tightened in major cities including Islamabad. Security has been beefed up on all roads leading to and from Islamabad and snipers have been deployed at important places and buildings. Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the attack.

Khan, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, tweeted, “My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured.” It has therefore become imperative that we improve intelligence gathering and strengthen the police force suitably to counter the growing menace of terrorism.” Last year, a similar attack on a Shia mosque in Kocha Risaldar area of the city 63 people had lost their lives. The TTP has reneged on a ceasefire with the Pakistan government and has ordered its militants to carry out terrorist attacks across the country. It has been involved in several deadly attacks, including attacks on army headquarters and military bases in 2009, and the Marriott Hotel bombing in 2008. accused of being involved. It is said that he is close to Al Qaeda.