Peshawar Blast 37 killed in Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Thirty-seven people were killed and over one hundred injured in a powerful bomb blast outside a police station near Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar today.

Lady Reading Hospital sources say that six women and four children are among those killed in the blast. Three buildings and several shops were also badly damaged.

Additional Inspector General Bomb Disposal Squad Shafqat Malik said more than two hundred kilograms explosive was used in the blast.

He said the bomb‚ placed in a vehicle‚ was triggered with a remote control.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the blast and directed the officials to ensure best medical treatment to the injured.

The Governor and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also condemned the incident and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.

The blast has also been vehemently condemned among others by PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‚ Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan‚ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Sirajul Haq and JUI-F Ameer Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Provincial Senior Minister Sikandar Khan Sherpao and ANP leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour visited the spot and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

Talking to media men‚ Sikandar Khan Sherpao said targeting innocent people is an inhuman and un-Islamic act.

He asked federal government to evolve a comprehensive strategy in light of recommendations of the all parties conference for durable peace.

Provincial Finance Minister Sirajul Haq‚ in an interview‚ said the federal government should implement the decisions taken at the all parties conference and initiate dialogue process with the Taliban.

He urged the Prime Minister to keep dialogue with Taliban his top priority on return from New York. He said the provincial government is fully prepared to cooperation with the centre to resolve the issue of terrorism.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has sought report of Peshawar Blast from Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Khan Durrani.

Condemning the blast in the strongest terms‚ the minister prayed for the early recovery of victims.