Excise Dept remains closed on third day of attack

MARDAN: The Excise and Taxation Department remained closed in the wake of Tuesday’s attack while almost all the injured people have been discharged from hospitals.

“The incident occurred due to poor security at the offices,” an official source told The News on Thursday.

According to the sources at the District Headquarter Hospital, a total of 13 injured were taken to the hospital soon after the incident. Two of the injured were referred to a hospital in Peshawar and Mardan Medical Complex (MMC) while one died during surgery while the other 10 were discharged from the hospital.

The suicide attack also partially damaged the veranda and rooms of the office building. The excise offices have been functioning in a private building for the last several years. The officials have now decided to shift the office to another suitable place. The sources said there was no security guard at the main gate when the suicide attacker entered the office.