Five injured after two bombs go off at Ajmal Khattak’s under-construction mausoleum
According to details, Nowshera police were trying to clear people gathered at the site of a bomb explosion at the under construction mausoleum of Ajmal Khattak. As the people, and journalists were being asked to leave, another improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the same graveyard. Five people including three journalists were injured.
"Chaos broke after the second explosion took place," Siddique, an eyewitness told The Express Tribune. “Neither the police nor journalists went close to the area after the explosion.”
An official of the bomb disposal unit said that around four kilograms of explosives were used to carry out the first attack while approximately a two kilogram IED caused the second explosion.
Nowshera police said that investigations were still underway into the incident.
Condemnations from various factions and sectors poured in.
The injured were rushed to District Headquarters Nowshera hospital.
Earlier, a bomb went off at the under-construction mausoleum of famous Pushto poet and a former Member National Assembly, late Ajmal Khattak on Grand Trunk (GT) road, Akora Khattak area of Nowshera, badly damaging the structure.
No loss of life was reported in the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack thus far.
Police have arrested the guard of the building and are currently interrogating him.
Police said that initially five armed people approached the under construction building of the mausoleum and over-powered the guard. He was tied with a rope before the armed men placed explosive devices inside the building which went off with a big bang. Up to 80 per cent of the mausoleum was damaged.
“They were five people who came to the area and planted bombs there and fled the area after the explosion,” said a police official of the local police station while talking to The Express Tribune.
The provincial government had provided a Rs10 million grant for the construction of building at the grave of late Ajmal Khattak. The grave is situated along the main Grand Trunk (GT) road in a graveyard.
They said that the move was aimed at creating unrest among the local people.
Ajmal Khattak was the former president of Awami National Party (ANP) and a former MNA. He died of illness on February 7, 2010 in Peshawar.
Last month, an anonymous threatening letter was found at the shrine of Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan which warned of ‘dire consequences’ if some rituals were not abolished. Security was beefed up after the letter was received.
Similarly, a letter was received last year followed by two terrorist attacks at the shrine that killed more than 55 people and injured over 150. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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I am against TTPs actions. But everyone defending the tomb under Islamic pretext need a reality check, building shrines over graves is a detestable sin and are not allowed in Islam, the prophet saww forbid us from it!
Strongly condemn this coward act. These are not "Human Beings" even.
Taliban are enemies of Pakhtuns and I condemn Establishment for considering Taliban as "strategic assets".
Where is Pushtun Ghairat?
It is a deplorable act , so sad to read that.
so sad and tragic.This war has evaporated all ethics from our society.if we can bomb the graves , can do suicidal attacks on funerals and even in hospitals than i can just say that may God bless us.
After all the recent past events I am not surprised, but disgusted. It is very clear that some extremists do not believe in any tomb or mausoleum even for the most sacred people. They have tried blowing up Data Darbar and other shrines. Let us not confuse things with lies and foreign hand. No foreign power except S. Arabia and likes is Whabi or Salafi and do not target tombs. We just had a Milaad and some opposed it tooth and nail. Not only that they are now not allowing even Quran Khawani in some mosques for a deceased person. It is Muslims only who have to decide what kind of Islam they have to follow? Do they follow their forefather’s religion or new Whabi/Salafi Islam?
First, all Pukhtuns are not ''ZOMBIE TALIBAN'',there are also Punjabi Taliban as South Punjab has over 12000 pro-saudi wahabi MAD-RASSA where they preach hate and brain wash kids and get them ready for suicide attacks,WAHABI ISLAM is against liberals and also destroys shrines etc.What happened today , can tell us where Pakistan is heading,these Taliban are creation of ISI,HAMIS GUL and if Pakistani Army cant crush these ZOMBIES then its a coward army,If Army generals are playing double game,taking billions of dollars from U.S.A. and also pampering Taliban then they are going to destroy Pakistan.
Congratulations For The Nation.....Going Excellent :D :D
The terrorists will leave no stone unturned in their mission to destabilize the region. This latest bomb attack is clear proof that they are aiming to destroy the heritage, along with the culture of the people. Ajmal Khatat was not only a Pashtu poet, but also a popular leader of the KP’s ruling party, ANP (Awami National Party).
It brings us a great relief to hear that no lives were lost in this attack, but at the same time, we are saddened to hear that the shrine of a dead poet was completely destroyed. The terrorists have become a menace that will not go away, and it is all the more important to overcome our differences and regroup for the sake of targeting our common enemies. Otherwise they will continue to target innocent lives and spread destruction with their acts of terror.
Maj David Nevers DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
ANP is a dangerous for the security of Pak.
Shame on all these stupid peoples who are even attacking tombs of our leaders and great poets.
It was the Pakistan Taliban.
Wow what a country we have......the living beings are being tortured but plz FOR THE SAKE OF GOD PLZ LET THE DIED ONES RIP..............{REST IN PEACE]
Extremely deplorable incident. This is the time to beg forgiveness from Allah SWT
Ten millions for grave but no money for other wellfare things what a peoples tuff.
This is highly regrettable. An insane war creating more and more insanity each passing day. The whole society is becoming a horde of criminals; ganging up under different banners; on different pretexts but with one goal, "Anarchy". In FATA, its religious militancy; In Balochistan, its ethnic militancy; in Gilgit Baltistan & Quetta (Hazara areas), its sectarian militancy; in Karachi, its mafia militancy (drug, land, bhatta etc); in interior Sindh, its Bandit militancy. Try tracing out the roots of all these forms of militancy; the principle reason is deprivation, poverty & economic misery & frustration (caused by all the corruption, mismanagement at Govt level). So unless the rulers choose to reform themselves (or are thrown out alternatively), Pakistan is going to see much more insanity in the days to come, unfortunately. p.s: Condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. Ajmal Khattak Kaka was a role model politician; a man who couldn't even build a hujra for himself even after remaining a leading politician for decades (seems unbelievable seeing his political successors i.e. ANP leaders of today).
Stupid are those people who call Taliban as Pukhtun Nationalists. How can a Pukhtun Nationalists bomb the Grave/tomb of a renowned Pukhtun Nationalist who died for the cause of Pukhtuns. And this is not the first time. The blast Rahman Baba & Hamza Baba tombs as well. But one thing is clear they can blow up their tombs but then cannot wash their ideas from the heart of Pukhtuns. Long live Ajmal Baba!