Peshawar suicide attackers identified, says interior minister

Opposition has yet to send a request for NA session, says interior minister

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Saturday said the three attackers involved in the Peshawar imambargah suicide bombing have been identified.

The suicide attack on the imambargah during Friday prayers martyred at least 62 people and injured scores. Three attackers were involved, one of whom rushed inside the premises and blew himself up. 

اسلام آباد :5 مارچ 2022
وفاقی وزیر داخلہ شیخ رشید احمد کا ملکی و سیاسی صورتحال پر ویڈیو پیغام جاری@ImranKhanPTI @PakPMO
( ایڈمن پوسٹ) pic.twitter.com/miaqQlDMex

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) March 5, 2022

Rashid said the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police and investigation agencies had done an excellent job and had identified the assailants soon after the horrific attack. 

"Police will get to the accused in a day or two, but we have totally identified them," said the minister.

No-trust motion

The interior minister, dispelling rumours, said the interior ministry had not received any requests for the renewal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's passport.

Referring to the planned no-confidence motion by the opposition parties, the interior minister said that the "opposition was creating a lot of ruckus" about the move, however, the request for calling a National Assembly session has not yet been received. 

"After a request for a session is received, the NA speaker has to call it within 14 days. Request for a session and the no-confidence motion are two different things."

Read At least 56 dead, dozens injured in Peshawar imambargah

He added that the NA speaker then has another two or three days, after which a week would be allotted for speeches and then a vote would be taken on the no-trust motion, and that the entire process takes 24 to 25 days, if not a month.

“The opposition should not create misunderstandings among the people, Imran Khan will complete his five-year term,” he said.

Rashid stated that the country was not destroyed by floods, earthquakes or diseases, but suffered from rumours, sabotage and chaos.

Earlier today, the CTD registered the case of the suicide attack in Peshawar. The city also witnessed the funerals of at least 25 of the victims. The attack was one of the worst in recent years.