Daily Times

PARACHINAR: At least 25 people were killed and 54 injured in a bomb blast at vegetable market in Parachinar of Khurram Agency, officials said on Saturday.

According to the political administration, the blast took place at 8:50am when a large number of people were busy shopping in the vegetable market located in Parachinar area of Kurram Agency. As a result, 25 people were killed while several others were injured in the attack.

The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where several of them are said to be in critical condition. Security forces have cordoned off the area and an operation is underway to determine and apprehend the culprits involved. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

An eye witness claimed that, at the time of the blast, a large number of people were present at the SabziMandi, which is located inside the Eidgah market. The bomb blast had been caused by an IED. The political administration had its security system in place. Check posts were installed at various locations in the city, as well as its entrance, where vehicles are searched for any explosive material.

According to the ISPR, army helicopters were shifting the injured to hospitals for medical treatment. The helicopters were shifting the injured from Parachinar to the CMH and LRH hospitals in Peshawar. This is reportedly the fourth time that a bomb blast has taken place in the same area. Three blasts have previously taken place at the same location over a couple of years.

President MamnoonHussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have expressed their deep grief over the loss of precious lives in the deadly blast. They directed for urgent medical assistance to the injured.Interior Minister ChaudhryNisar Ali Khan strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over loss of precious lives in the blast.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor IqbalZafarJhagra also condemned the blast and sympathised with the bereaved families. Expressing condolence over the incident Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb repeated the government’s commitment to eliminate terrorism from the country. She said that the enemies of peace will be dealt. The minister added that such cowardly attacks cannot dent the resolve against the menace of terrorism.