Afridi vows to protect country against terror

State minister for interior visits site of the bomb explosion, condoles with victims’ families

PESHAWAR: Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi has vowed not to let enemies destabilise the country through terror attacks, saying “we will foil all such nefarious designs”.

“We will protect each and every inch of the country against the menace [terrorists],” said the state minister while interacting with tribal elders during his visit to the Kalaya Headquarters on Sunday.

The minister was accompanied by Sector Commander Ghaljo, Commandant Orakzai Scouts, deputy commissioner and others.

The minister visited the site of the blast and also offered condolences to the victims’ families, who were in their third day of mourning.

A powerful bomb tore through a bustling fruits and vegetable market in a tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, killing at least 34 people and injuring dozens more.

The bomb explosion took place in the Shia-dominated Kalaya area of Orakzai district which in the past had been wrecked by sectarian violence but has become stable of late.

The explosive device, concealed in a crate, went off as soon as a pickup truck carrying fruits and vegetable pulled over at the weekly Kalaya Bazaar just as shopkeepers put up their stalls and shoppers started trickling in.



Security is on high alert in the city. All trading centres were closed on the third day of the blast Sunday as Qul was held for the victims.

Afridi said, “The nation is united and on the same page to defend the country against enemies.”

The minister said they had to shun differences and work in cohesion for the safety and security of the motherland.

The minister later visited the KDA Hospital and inquired after the health of the injured. He issued directives for provision of best medical facilities to the victims.



Afridi did not interact with the media at the hospital in Kohat.

However, it is learnt that the minister assured a package of Rs1 million each for the family of the martyred, Rs500,000 each for the critically injured and Rs100,000 each for the ones with minor injuries. (with additional input from APP)