PESHAWAR — At least 32 people were killed and 56 others injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a hotel in Ustarzai area in district Kohat on Friday.
In a latter development, three more persons were killed when some unknown assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the funeral of one of the victims of the blast.
The bomber blew himself up at a bazaar outside Kismat Ali hotel near a bus-stand in Usterzai locality apparently dominated by Shia community on Hangu Road that resulted in flattering the two-story hotel completely, killing 32 people and injuring 50 others. Besides, damaging 26 shops and 15 vehicles.
The dead bodies lay on the road and casualties were trapped under the debris from shops that caved in after the blast. Eyewitnesses said that several cars were destroyed while the intense blast brought down more than two dozen shops at the crowded market.
They said that the suicide bomber struck his explosive-filled car with other vehicles parked on the roadside. As the bomber blew himself up the whole buildings on both sides of the road caved in completely.
At the time of suicide attack, the area was packed with shoppers buying food and sweets for Eidul Fitr holiday likely to be celebrated on Sunday in the province. An eyewitness said that a suicide bomber blew up a car filled with explosives in the market, saying the attack occurred near a bus stop where passenger buses and coaches arrive and depart from other towns including FATA.
According to the bomb disposal squad, it was a suicide attack, in which the explosives-laden vehicle probably contained more than 150kg of explosives was used and the blast shook Kohat.
The rescue teams worked through the afternoon to pull victims from the rubble. Most of the injured are stated to be in critical condition and they were taken to Peshawar. Furthermore, emergency was declared at hospitals in Kohat. Soon after the explosion, Kohat-Hangu road was closed off for all sort of traffic.
A crowd of Shia community, angry at the failure of the police to provide security in their vulnerable neighborhoods destroyed a police car with rocks when it arrived at the scene of the blast. The Shia community mostly inhabits the area where the attack took place and there has been sectarian violence in the past. No-one claimed responsibility for the attack
In a latter development, at least three people were killed when some unknown assailants opened indiscriminate fire on a funeral in a Kohat area, reported a private TV channel. The people were attending the funeral of one of the victims of the suicide attack. Two people were also injured in the firing incident who were taken to nearby hospital. The assailants, however, managed to flee from the scene.
It was the second attack in two days in the area in the first one a planted bomb exploded with a big bang at an electronic shop injured three persons. Meanwhile, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti have condemned KohatÂ’s suicide attack in strong words.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari Friday strongly condemned the Kohat blast. President Zardari who is currently in London on an official visit, in a message, highly deplored the incident and said the perpetrators of such heinous crime would not be spared.
He said the government would leave no stone unturned to find the culprits and give them severe punishment under the law. He condoled with the families of the deceased and directed the medical staff to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the bomb blast and directed the concerned authorities to carry out inquiry into the incident. In a message, the Prime Minister asked the staff at hospitals to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
He said the government would take every possible step to root out the menace of terrorism from the country. He condoled with the families of the deceased and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in peace.
Meanwhile, NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haidar Khan Hoti has announced compensation package for affectees of Kohat bomb blast, according to which those martyred in the incident, will be provided Rs300,000 each and those injured seriously would be given Rs100,000 per head.
The chief minister strongly condemned the bomb blast at Kacha Pakha (Kohat) and immediately directed probe into the incident. He directed the law-enforcement agencies to utilize all its resources for the arrest of the culprits adding that the commitments of the government and the Pakhtuns against terrorism could not be shaken through such cowardly acts of terrorism.
The chief minister said that those shedding blood of innocent Muslims in the last “Ashra” of revered month of Ramazan don’t deserve to be called as human beings. He said that the terrorists’ network was broken during the law-enforcement operation and with the support of the general public.
He appealed to the people of Kohat to remain patient and cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies in arresting the miscreants and assured that the enemies of religion and humanity would be brought to book. The chief minister also directed the administrations of hospitals in Kohat to take every possible measure for the treatment of the injured. He expressed solidarity with family members of the martyred and the injured and prayed for the dead that they might rest in peace in heaven. He also wished the injured speedy recovery from injuries.