Tue 31 January 2023:
At least 93 people were killed and 221 more were injured in the horrifying mosque blast that targeted police officials in the secured Police Lines facility in Peshawar. Bodies were still being pulled from the rubble on Tuesday.
The January 30 attack on the Sunni mosque located inside a high-security police facility is one of the deadliest to target Pakistani security forces in recent years.
Security agencies say they do not know how the bomber managed to enter the area, which is protected by a series of checkpoints manned by police and military personnel. Defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the bomber was standing in the first row in the prayer hall when he detonated his explosives.
Meanwhile, hope was fading in the search for survivors as rescue workers sifted through the rubble of the mosque that was all but destroyed Monday, when worshipers – mainly law enforcement officials – had gathered for evening prayers.
Funeral prayer offered
Funeral prayers of 27 martyrs have been performed with Corp Commander Peshawar, IG Police, and Commandant Frontier Corps in attendance.
The police team saluted the martyrs, while strict security measures were taken around the Police Lines area.
پشاور پولیس لائنز مسجد دھماکے میں شہید ہونیوالے پولیس اہلکاروں کی نماز جنازہ پولیس لائنز میں سرکاری اعزاز کیساتھ ادا کردی گئی pic.twitter.com/IPRkBWJI0p
— Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@CSKPOfficial) January 30, 2023
Eyewitness account
An eyewitness told the media that he was going to the mosque when the explosion took place.
“It was a powerful explosion. There was smoke everywhere after the blast,” said the eyewitness. He added that when got conscious he saw the roof of the mosque collapse.
“There were at least 120 people in the mosque when the incident took place. It was a suicide blast because the bomber was inside the mosque’s inner courtyard. The Zuhr prayer had just started when it happened. There were mostly policemen among the injured,” the eyewitness recalled.
Eyewitnesses told Radio Mashaal that suicide bombers standing in the first row behind the imam detonated explosive vests as worshippers gathered for the afternoon prayers in the Police Line Mosque on January 30.
However, authorities have yet to establish who was behind the bombing.
Peshawar Mosque Blast: Death toll climbs to 59; 157 others were injured. pic.twitter.com/74KGlz6IiX
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 30, 2023
TTP denied
Initially on Monday, TTP officials Sarbakaf Mohmand and Omar Mukaram Khurasani had claimed the blast was “revenge” for the death of TTP militant Khalid Khorasani last year.
But the TTP’s main spokesperson later denied the group was involved in the attack.
“Regarding the Peshawar incident, we consider it necessary to clarify that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has nothing to do with this incident,” TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement late Monday. “According to our laws and general constitution, any action in mosques, madrasas, funerals grounds and other sacred places is an offense.”
On January 31, rescuers were continuing to search through the rubble for survivors or bodies, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet Minister Muhammad Ali Shah told Radio Mashaal that improved security was the authorities’ main priority.
“We, the federal government, and all the agencies will not let the city of Peshawar become a city of bombings,” Shah said.
Condemnations pour in
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has condemned the attack and ordered an investigation into how the attacker managed to get inside the compound.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” Sharif said on Twitter.
مسلم لیگ (ن) کے کارکنوں کو ہدایت کرتا ہوں کہ خودکش حملے میں زخمیوں کی جان بچانے کے لئے خون کے عطیات دیں، خاص طور پر ‘او۔نیگیٹو’ خون کے حامل عوام، طالب علم اور پارٹی کارکنان سے اپیل ہے کہ فی الفور لیڈی ریڈنگ ہسپتال، پشاور پہنچیں اور قیمتی انسانی جانیں بچانے میں اپنا حصہ ڈالیں۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 30, 2023
Sharif, who visited a Peshawar hospital after the attack, declared a national day of mourning and vowed “stern action” against the perpetrators.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “abhorrent” blast, his spokesman said.
My condolences to the families of the victims of Monday’s suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan.
It is abhorrent that the attack occurred at a place of worship. Freedom of religion or belief, including the ability to worship in peace & security, is a universal human right.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 30, 2023
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also condemned the bombing, calling it a “terrorist suicide attack.”
“It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering [and] properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism,” Khan tweeted.
Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide attack in police lines mosque Peshawar during prayers. My prayers & condolences go to victims families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 30, 2023
Permanent representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations Muhammad Suhail Shaheen took to twitter to condemn the Peshawar blast that has resulted in 89 casualties and more than 150 wounded.#Etribune #PeshawarBlast #SuhailShaheen pic.twitter.com/f5VHPiyUrw
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) January 31, 2023
Peshawar is the capital of the volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan.
Security on high alert in Islamabad
Following the blast in Peshawar, Inspector-General of Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan issued orders to put security on high alert in the federal capital.
Moreover, checking has been increased at all the entry and exit points in the city while monitoring is being done by Safe City Capital Command and Control Centre Islamabad.
Snipers have also been deployed at important sites and buildings.
پشاور میں دھماکہ۔
آئی جی اسلام آباد ڈاکٹر اکبر ناصر خاں نے اسلام آباد میں سکیورٹی ہائی الرٹ کے احکامات جاری کردئیے۔
تمام داخلی و خارجی راستوں پر چیکنگ بڑھا دی گئی۔
سیف سٹی کے ذریعے مانیٹرنگ کی جارہی ہے۔
اہم ناکہ جات اور عمارتوں پر سنائپرز تعینات کر دیے گئے ہیں۔⏬
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) January 30, 2023
Rights groups have condemned the deadly attack, which has raised fears of fresh violence amid a deteriorating security situation in the country.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a statement Monday said the attack could have been avoided if the “state heeded earlier warnings from civil society about extremist outfits in the province.”
The drastic security breach came on the day United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had been due to visit Islamabad, although the trip was cancelled at the last minute due to “bad weather.”
Pakistan is also hosting an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation as it works towards unlocking a vital bailout loan to prevent a looming default.
The attack also comes at a fragile time for Pakistan, which has been grappling with a cost of living crisis as food and fuel shortages wreak havoc in the country of 220 million.
Sharif’s government has struggled to revive the country’s economy, further devastated by deadly floods last year that killed more than 1,500 people and submerged entire villages.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS With AP and Reuters
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