AC, tehsildar among 5 martyred in Bajaur blast

KHAR/PESHAWAR: Five persons, including an assistant commissioner, a tehsildar and two cops, were martyred and 16 persons sustained injuries when an explosion ripped through a car in Sadiqabad area, Bajaur district, on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred at around 2:00pm on Nawagai Road, near the Sadiqabad checkpoint, when the vehicle of Assistant Commissioner, Nawagai, Faisal Ismail was targeted as he was traveling to the district headquarters in Khar.

The blast was so powerful that it was heard miles away.

Officials said that the explosives were planted in a motorcycle and the blast occurred when the official’s vehicle was passing through the area.

However, senior investigators suspect the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber coming on a motorbike.

“The evidence from the spot suggests it was a suicide bomber coming on a motorbike that hit the official car. From the initial reports, it seems the blast was a suicide bombing,” said a senior investigator.

Among those martyred included Assistant Commissioner Faisal Ismail, Nawagai Tehsildar Abdul Wakeel Khan, Sub-Inspector Noor Hakim, Constable Zahid and a passerby identified as Fazal Manan. Sixteen others, including four police personnel, were injured in the attack.

The injured include Constable Ayaz, Constable Muhammad Zameen, Constable Syed Rehman and Constable Fazal Haq.

The injured civilians have been identified as Waqar Khan, Hayatullah, Umar, Irfan, Abdul Samad, Jameel, Fazal Badshah, Zair Gul, Fazal Hakeem, Bilal, Ataullah and Zahir.

Rescue teams and local residents quickly reached the site and began emergency operations. The deceased and injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Khar, while four critically injured individuals were later moved to Peshawar for specialised treatment.

Funeral prayers for the martyred officials were offered at the Police Lines in Civil Colony, Khar. Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali, District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq, Commandant Bajaur Scouts, government officials, relatives of the martyrs and a large number of locals attended the funeral prayers.

Officials said an investigation into the incident was going on. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has sought a report from the Regional Police Officer Malakand on the explosion in Bajaur and the martyrdom of senior government officials. The IGP ordered to further intensify intelligence-based operations against terrorists and directed the Additional IG, CTD to send a special team to Bajaur.

The IGP said the Special Branch is obtaining intelligence related to the incident. He added that according to the initial information, Khawarij targeted the assistant commissioner’s vehicle.

“Teams have been formed to go after those involved in the incident, while all necessary evidence is being collected from the spot,” said Zulfiqar Hameed. He added the bomb disposal unit teams also visited the spot to collect evidence.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ai Zardari strongly condemned the bomb blast in District Bajaur and expressed his grief over the death of the assistant commissioner, tehsildar and other personnel.

He said that terrorists were the enemies of humanity who targeted people and reiterated the resolve of taking all possible measures to completely eradicate the scourge of terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the blast and expressed deep grief and sorrow over deaths of innocent people. In a press statement, he offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and said terrorists were targeting innocent people for which they would be given an exemplary punishment.