Death toll rises to 100 as Quetta and Parachinar mourn their dead

Author: Arshad Yusufzai

PESHAWAR: The number of casualties in Friday’s bombings in Quetta and Parachinar crossed 100 and more than 245 injured are being treated, hospital and local sources claimed.

According to reports, the mobile phone and internet services have been completely suspended in Parachinar.

Sadiq Hussain, a resident of Parachinar, informed Daily Times over a landline phone that the death toll had crossed 95 and many more among the injured were in a critical condition.

“Many of the injured are partially dead. The number of casualties will rise as the injured have no access to quality medical treatment,” he said.

Sadiq added that many people, mostly young educated persons and women have gathered outside the PA office. “The number of protesters is increasing. People aren’t buying interior minister’s sympathies, they want real answers,” he opined.

Mumtaz Bangash, a freelance journalist in Parachinar in his last update on the social media in the early hours on Saturday before the internet blockade, said that he counted 57 bodies during his visit to a local hospital.

“Just coming from hospital. So far 57 dead and 306 injured with 46 in critical condition,” his Facebook status said at around 3am on Saturday.

Continuing support to the victims of the blast, the army helicopters resumed their rescue operation on Saturday morning as the choppers flew back and forth between Peshawar and Parachinar to bring the injured to Peshawar.

A source at the Peshawar airport, from where the choppers operated the rescue mission, said that two army helicopters were used in the rescue operation.

“The helicopters continued bringing injured persons from Parachinar till late last evening. One helicopter pilot used night vision goggles during his last flight from Parachinar. The rescue operation resumed at 5am on Saturday and continued till late afternoon as more injured patients were brought to Peshawar,” he said.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al Alami, a terrorist group associated with the Islamic State, has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Furthermore, intelligence reports suggested that another terrorist group affiliated with the terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is said to be preparing for targeted attacks on police and Counter Terrorism Department officials and prominent politicians in Peshawar.

Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.