Suicide blast kills six in Batagram before minister arrives
The incident took place at the site where Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was due to hold a gathering, addressed by PML-Q leader Amir Muqam, later today.
Top local administration official Khalid Khan Omarzai told AFP that more than 20 people had been injured.
"I can confirm now that it was a suicide attack. The bomber came on foot. He blew himself up when police stopped him for a body search at the entrance of the venue of the public meeting," he said.
"The death toll has now risen to six after one of the injured people died of his wounds in the hospital," police official Ghuman Hussain told AFP.
President Asif Ali Zardari also confirmed the attack, reported Express 24/7.
“We had informed the local administration some time ago and there should have been proper security arrangements in place," Muqam told Geo television after the attack.
“I'll certainly go there and see what happened. I'll also go to the hospital to meet the injured people. I'm not satisfied with the arrangements made for the public meeting," he said.
The injured have been shifted to the local hospital, and police and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area. Forensics evidence is also being collected from the site.
The preparations of the gathering were underway when the blast took place; but PML-Q said it would continue with the procession.
Muqam has previously been attacked several times.
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Dear Imran Khan,
Where are you? Why are you not protesting the loss of innocent life? Why do you only protest the life of people who are likely to be terrorists?
Sincerely, Someone who does not defile the name "Khan" in the way you do
Thanks God (Allah)! Eng. Amir Muqam safe in this sucide attack. But Some inocent People 're died in this attack. (Allah Make Pakistan Peaceful Country) Ameen Soma Ameen
@Mirza: @Subhash, India: One day a holy soul shall once again appear in our homeland Meant is not the appearance of a physical human.......with higher consciousness is meant that we percieve the divinity of life with our hearts, because that is the abode of the holy soul from which we have drifted far away..........***the essence of life, the beauty of life and all higher orders of life cannot be understood from the intellect ! smiles from heart to heart
@Subhash, India: I agree with you 100%. It is sad to say that even Indians get it but our Pakistanis are not even trying to understand what is going on. We are waiting for somebody from the top/sky to come and save us. We do not want to change and earn prosperity, safety, and economic progress. People keep saying it is the govt's fault, democracy sucks, the whole world is enemy, China would save us, and however, we do not take any responsibility as an adult nation of 63 years old. Some of us behave like sour grapes and say good the US should not give us anything. Nobody can give anything unless we take it. When was the last time anybody in Pakistan govt made an announcement that we have stopped taking aid money and want to be on our own? We are only talk and no action or sense of responsibility. Thanks and regards, Mirza
@Faction: Sad to say but I would have to agree with you. The truth is scary! Regards, Mirza
@goggi: The toughest of journeys start with the 1st step, and that step has to be of a common Muslim in Pakistan; no need to wait for some holy soul to come and relieve you all from this menace.
@mizra - to stop the terrorists and their cronies you would have to kill or imprison half the population of Pakistan! @Yasser - haven't you learned that once you give the terrorists a reason to kill, they will always find another?
Its an act of RAW/CIA/Spiderman/Superman....
@Samir: Your war, you fight it ... you get killed
The elimination of terror from the contemporary islamistan is same as if jumping over ones own shadow. This barbaric violence is the centuries old outcome of a religion brainwashing which taught us absolutism, and the slightest deviation results in revengeful killing. One day a holy soul shall once again appear in our homeland, which is the abode of wisdom and higher consciousness, and speak in our souls, that the highest of all religions was, is and shall always be the HUMANISM!
God Bless Mansehra...
I wonder if we remember the days when such people were much praised and declared Shaheed and Jihadis fighting in the name of God. Too bad we all somehow contributed to this state of affair and now with the same vigor and force rant and rave against the very people that were dear to us like muslim brethrens.Whatever you sow so shall you reap.
yawn... come one guys.. this is not news.. something which happens everyday... like having coffee or tea...yawn again..
No reason for terrorist to attack Amer Muqam, Now the political parties have taken the line of terrorist to attack each other. Amer Muqam is supporter of Hazara division and ANP is not.
Another day, another explosion. No dharna from Imran Khan. No words from Zaid Hamid. This is OUR war. Do we get it yet?
These terrorists, who have taken Pakistan as hostage, must be dealt with the iron fist. There cannot be any peace until and unless all these terrorists and their cronies are defeated and destroyed. Make no mistake about it, this is Pakistan’s war and we have to deal with it. We are living with it not the US. We can continue denying it but poor policemen and civilians are dying every day. Once again it is a sad day in Pakistan. My heart goes out to the families of the victims.
Asset depreciation?