PESHAWAR: At least 20 people were killed and 70 others injured in two separate bomb blasts in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency, on Friday.
The political administration told ARY News that the first blast occurred in a crowded Toori bazaar, where people were buying food for iftar.
Hearing the explosion, a number of people rushed to the site to rescue the victims, when a second blast took place.
The nature of the blasts cannot be ascertained as yet. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are conducting a search operation. A state of emergency has been declared and the injured are being shifted to hospitals.
Provincial minister Shaukat Yusufzai said the blast affected those who were present in the market for shopping ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, while many were moving out of town for the upcoming holidays.
Military’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced that two army aviation helicopters taken off from Peshawar to Parachinar for speedy evacuation of injured to Peshawer .
Security Forces have cordoned off the area. Rescue operation is in progress.
Director General ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said security has been tightened across the country and special intelligence based operations and search operations are being launched in coordination with intelligence and other Law Enforcement Agencies.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the enemy was trying to mar the festive mood of nation through such coward acts.
“The enemy shall fail against resilience of Pakistan,” said the COAS.
President, PM condemn terror attacks
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have condemned the terrorist attacks in Parachinar today and directed the concerned authorities to beef up security arrangements across the country in the wake of terrorist attacks.
Nawaz said terrorists were attacking soft targets and no Muslim can ever imagine to commit such horrific act. He said such acts of terrorism will be dealt with full power.
The prime minister, while expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the attack, prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
He also prayed for swift recovery of those injured in the terrorist attacks.
Mamnoon Hussain has directed the relevant authorities to provide best medical facilities to the injured and commiserated with the bereaved families.
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