The death toll in one of the worst bombings in the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Pakistan, has risen to 57 . Two suicide bombers had carried out bombings in busy market of Shia Muslims dominated Parachinar area in Khurram tribal agency on Friday evening, causing large scale destruction.

Islamabad, July 27/Nationalturk- The death toll from last night’s twin suicide bombings in busy market of Shia Muslims dominated Parachinar area in Khurram tribal agency in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan has risen to 57  as many more critically injured succumbed to injuries.

“The suicide bombers came on motorbikes and blew themselves up in the busy Parachinar bazaar in Khurram agency last night. When the suicide bombing took place, more than 400 people, mostly minority Shia Muslims, were busy shopping for Iftar (to end fasting) in the holy month of Ramadan,”  Political Agent of Kurram Agency Riaz Mehsud said.

Giving further details, he said one suicide bomber blew himself up in one corner of the bazaar and a minute later another bomber carried out the bombing in another corner, causing widespread destruction.

Riaz said many people were killed on spot and over 100 injured in the twin bombings. “The injured were shifted to different hospitals, where many critically injured succumbed to injuries”.

A health official said the death toll has risen to 57. “The toll may go up as many injured are battling for life,” he said adding some of the critically injured have been referred to Peshawar hospital for specialized treatment.

Sabir Hussain, head of the local hospital also confirmed the new death toll.

Immediately after the blast, police and paramilitary soldiers rushed to the spot and cordoned the whole area. They conducted search operation to hunt for accomplices of the suicide bombers.

‘Most of dead and injured were Shias’

A Shia leader pleading anonymity said almost all the dead and wounded were Shias. “Over 160 people have been injured in the twin suicide bombings”.

According to Pakistan media, Parachinar area is inhabited by Shias and has suffered terrorist attacks in the past as well. Parachinar is some 250 kilometres west of Peshawar and has a population of 50,000.

“For almost four years, the main road from Thall to Parachinar was blocked due to the attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistani (TTP) militants and passengers had to use the Afghanistan route to drive to Torkham before entering Pakistan. The road was eventually opened by the security forces, but the passenger vehicles still need a security escort to pass safely through the Sunni-populated lower Khurram valley where some of the militants are still operating,” reports said.

Ansar-ul-Mujahideen claims bombings

According to Pakistan newspaper, The News, outlawed militant group TTP’s sub network Ansar-ul-Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombings.

“The suicide bombers of Ansarul Mujahideen carried out the twin suicide attacks in Parachinar. The target were members of the Shia community,” militant group’s spokesman Abu Baseer told newspaper from undisclosed place.

He said the attacks were carried out to seek revenge of atrocities by the Shia community on Sunni Muslims in Syria and Iraq. “We have planned more similar attacks against the Shia community in Pakistan to seek revenge of the brutalities of Shia on Sunni Muslims in Syria and Iraq,” he warned.

Write your comments and thoughts below

Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

[adrotate banner=”46″]