In harrowing news, at least 30 worshippers embraced martyrdom while 50 others sustained injuries in a suicide bomb blast inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Kocha Risaldar area during the Friday prayers.
In a statement to the media, Advisor to KP Chief Minister Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif confirmed that the explosion took place during Friday prayers.
“Reportedly the terrorists first tried to enter the mosque where they exchanged fire with the police,” said Barrister Saif. However, one of the terrorists managed to enter the mosque and detonated the suicide jacket.
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The rescue teams are rushing the injured to Lady Reading Hospital, while residents and people of the neighbourhood are also helping in transporting the injured on their motorcycles and cars. Police and security teams have cordoned off the area and started to collect evidence.
The Capital City Police Peshawar also confirmed that a police guard was martyred during the exchange of fire.
قصہ خوانی بازار کے کوچہ رسالدار شیعہ جامع مسجد میں دو حملہ آور نے گھسنے کی کوشش کی
ڈیوٹی پر موجود پولیس اہلکاروں پر فائرنگ ہوئی ہے
فائرنگ سے ایک پولیس جوان شہید جبکہ دوسرا زخمی ہوا ہے جس کی حالت تشویشناک ہے
پولیس ٹیم پر حملہ کے بعد جامع مسجد میں دھماکہ ہوا ہے
1/2 pic.twitter.com/9gwfHSsPuG
— Capital City Police Peshawar (@PeshawarCCPO) March 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/javeedalikmr/status/1499671145788116992?s=20&t=XuelkxS_L4tdp93f7PjAvg
https://twitter.com/Safeer_H313/status/1499671844844150791?s=20&t=XuelkxS_L4tdp93f7PjAvg
Leaders condemn the attack
The incident has sparked anger among Pakistanis who are taking to Twitter to condemn the attack. Many have raised concerns that terrorism is once again seeping back into the country.
You go pray Friday prayers. You tell your loved ones that you will be right back.
Then your body parts come home.
Why do terrorists mostly kill Muslims ? Especially when Muslims are praying at mosques.
اللہ جنّت ال فردوس میں جگہ دے۔ آمین۔
— Mir Mohammad Alikhan (@MirMAKOfficial) March 4, 2022
Reacting to the incident, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that the attack was a pre-planned act to destabilise Pakistan. The federal minister said no security alert was issued about the attack.
“External forces want to disturb peace in Pakistan,” he said, adding that he has sought a report from IG KPK and the chief secretary.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the deadly attack on the mosque and ordered efforts to provide immediate medical aid for the wounded. The premier also sought a report on the blast from the authorities concerned.
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KP CM Mahmood Khan, too, condemned the blast and sought a report from the police chief. The chief minister instructed the rescue workers to speed up the rescue operation and ordered provincial cabinet members to monitor the operations.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the Peshawar incident is a part of a “larger conspiracy”. “We have fought against such conspiracies in the past. God willing the enemies of Pakistan will continue to fail.”
پشاور دھماکہ ایک بڑی سازش کی کڑی ہے، ہم نے ماضی میں ایسی سازشوں کا مقابلہ کیا ہے انشاللہ اب بھی پاکستان کے دشمن ناکام ہوں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 4, 2022
PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to the families of those martyred in the attack.
Strongly condemning the incident in a statement, Shehbaz said those who attacked worshippers could be “neither Muslims nor humans”.
Heart-wrenching terrorist incident in Peshawar in which so many precious lives have been lost. Words can't adequately condemn the sheer brutality. Terrorism continues to remain our foremost national challenge. Prayers & condolences are with the bereaved families!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 4, 2022
He also expressed concern over the “serious security conditions” in the country.
“Words can’t adequately condemn the sheer brutality. Terrorism continues to remain our foremost national challenge,” he added in a tweet later.
Furthermore, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said terrorists had “carried out an attack on humanity” by targeting innocent worshippers.