Tag: suicide attack

  • Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    A bombing has left at least nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) martyred and 13 people wounded in Bolan, Balochistan on Monday morning.

    According to media reports, preliminary evidence suggests that the blast was a suicide attack. However, the exact nature will be disclosed after a thorough investigation.

    So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    BC is a department of the provincial police force that provides security at important events and in sensitive areas, including jails.

    Pakistan is dealing with a rapid rise in terror attacks since talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the attack on Balochistan Constabulary and expressed grief.

    This is a developing story.

  • APC postponed again as PM Shehbaz prepares to leave for Turkey

    APC postponed again as PM Shehbaz prepares to leave for Turkey

    The federal government again put off its all parties conference (APC) scheduled for February 9, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay a solidarity visit to Turkey.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting announced the change to the APC schedule for the second time in two days

    An earthquake of a 7.8-magnitude hit southern parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing over 4,800 people and injuring many.

    APC to be held on Februray 9 now

    Earlier, Aurangzeb has announced that APC has been rescheduled to February 9. Earlier, it was set to take place tomorrow (February 7).

    After last week’s deadly bombing in a Peshawar mosque, PM Shehbaz Sharif urged all political parties to come together to tackle terrorism and extended an invitation to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to attend the moot.

    ‘Unite!’: PM Shehbaz wants everyone to come together against terrorism

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for national unity against terrorism “or else history will not forgive us”, as he addressed an Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar.

    The moot was attended by the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers of all the provinces and other senior officials.

    “On Monday, a ghastly suicide attack martyred over 100 people and we are here to show solidarity with the families of those affected by the attack,” said the Premier. He added that the attack was “very unfortunate” but also noted that the attacker reached the mosque after passing through the check post in Police Lines.

    “Over 80 people who were praying at the mosque were subjected to martyrdom barbarically,” he said. “We are here to express sympathies with their families and this is the purpose of the meeting,” he said.

    Pointing out that the terrorist managed to breach a security check post and reach the mosque, Shehbaz Sharif said that the government should not feel hesitant in admitting the facts.

    “After APS, this was the most distributing incident that has taken place in the city. The nation is asking that after the elimination of terrorism a few years ago, how come this incident took place in Peshawar,” stated the Prime Minister.

    “What measures will be taken to stop this terror wave? It is the need of the hour that provinces and the Centre, along with the leadership of political parties, take ownership and shun their differences, be they political or related to any religious reasons. We should unite and tackle this.”

    Condemning the “baseless” allegations levelled after the attack on social media and other platforms, Shehbaz Sharif promised that the security lapse will be in investigated, “but to say that it was a drone attack or something else is very inappropriate.”

    The prime minister said in the past years, operations Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad “broke the back of terrorism” and sacrifices were rendered in its wake. “Our friends and foes give testimony to this,” he added.

    “Eradicating terrorism which had spread across four provinces was not easy. Many people lost their lives confronting terror. Our police and armed forces gave huge sacrifices. Our citizens were on the frontline.”

    He said history would never forget the martyrs and their sacrifices. “And such sacrifices cannot be forgotten.”

    The Premier said that Pakistan was carved out of India to become a leading nation, adding that if they do not act against terrorism now, history will not forgive them.

    “You [PTI] were ready to resettle who were shedding blood but not ready to shake hands for the sake of the nation. The double standard will not work now,” said PM Shehbaz.

    He said that he had extended an invitation to his predecessor Imran Khan.

    “I have also invited the leader of a political party who was not willing to shake hands with me. We now have to rise above personal likes and dislikes,” said the premier.

    Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister Shaukat Yousufzai said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had received the invitation for the meeting, however, they will be skipping the huddle.

    “We cannot sit with those who are taking vengeful acts against us,” said Yousufzai.

  • Terrorism threats: Five places to remain closed on New Year’s eve

    Terrorism threats: Five places to remain closed on New Year’s eve

    Local authorities have decided to close down five key recreational points ahead of New Year’s Eve in Islamabad as threats of terrorist attacks loom over the capital.

    According to Samaa News, the decision has been taken to prevent large gatherings on New Year’s eve out of fear of terrorism.

    The places include F-9 Park, Centaurus Mall, Safa Mall, Lake View Park, and Faisal Masjid. Residents of the city won’t be allowed to go to these places to welcome 2023.

    The Deputy Commissioner (DC) has directed Assistant Commissioners (ACs) to implement the orders.

    Moreover, to prevent any untoward incident, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police have also decided to beef up the security of the federal capital and called in 1,000 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel to assist the police at checkposts.

    These decisions have been taken following a suicide car bomb blast in Islamabad on December 23 that left one policeman martyred and 10 injured.

  • ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    ‘Suicide blast’ in Islamabad’s I-10: One policeman martyred, several injured

    A suicide blast in a vehicle left a policeman martyred and at least six people injured in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Friday, the federal capital’s police said in a statement.

    Shortly afterwards, the Islamabad Police declared a “red alert” in the city.

    According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha, the police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman aboard at 10:15am in the area.

    “When the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. The long-haired man, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle on some pretext and then detonated himself,” he said in a media briefing at the crime scene alongside Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.

    Police officials said that cops had stopped a “suspicious” taxi for snap checking when the explosion occurred.

    In a tweet, the Islamabad police said police officers were conducting snap-checking when they signalled to the suspicious vehicle to stop.

    “A suicide bomber aboard the vehicle detonated a bomb soon after the car stopped near the officers,” it said.

    Injured cops were moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

    All the hospitals in Islamabad have been put on high alert, a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services said. The ministry said to ensure the attendance of all the medical and paramedical staff.

    The Ministry of Health said that all federal hospitals should be kept on high alert keeping in view the current situation.

    Soon after the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned a report of the suicide blast and also condemned the terror incident.

    The PM also paid tribute to the martyred policemen, adding that the nation pays tribute to its martyrs. He added that the whole nation will fight against terrorism. 

    “The plan to shed innocent blood has failed due to the action of the law enforcement agencies,” said the PM. He also announced a martyr package for the family of Head Constable Adeel Hussain.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that “two terrorists” were killed in the blast.

    “The vehicle used in the blast was registered in Chakwal. The car entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi […] it was packed with explosives and headed for a high-value target in the capital,” he said.

    Sanaullah added that had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses.

    The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Friday.

  • ‘Changing threat matrix of terrorism is need of the hour’: PM Shehbaz responds to Kabul suicide blast killing 19

    ‘Changing threat matrix of terrorism is need of the hour’: PM Shehbaz responds to Kabul suicide blast killing 19

    A suicide bomb attack on a classroom of hundreds of students preparing for exams in Kabul, Afghanistan on Friday killed at least 19 people.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, extending his condolences, said, “Deeply grieved at the loss of young lives in a horrific suicide attack at a learning center in Kabul. Words can’t express this sheer barbarism. We send our deepest condolences & most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families & people of Afghanistan.”

    He further tweeted, “As I stated in my address at UNGA, terrorism continues to threaten not just Afghanistan & Pakistan but also the world. The international community should not let its guard down. Strengthening global cooperation against changing threat matrix of terrorism is need of the hour.”