Anger and rage over atrocity

Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Muhammad Azam Khan has strongly condemned the blast inside a mosque in Police Lines Peshawar, terming it a cowardly and barbaric act.

According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Caretaker CM has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious human lives in the incident and has prayed for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs and speedy recovery of the injured.

Expressing his heartfelt sympathy to the families of the martyrs, he said that the provincial government shares in the grief of the victims and they will not be left alone in any case.

“The morale of the nation and the law enforcement agencies will not be weakened by such cowardly incidents of the evil elements, the entire nation is united against terrorism, the people of this region and the law enforcement agencies have played a key role in the war against terrorism,” said the CM.

Leaders of political parties have also strongly condemned the blast.

Former chief minister (K-P) Mahmood Khan said that the attack on police line and the loss of innocent lives is very heartbreaking. Expressing his grief over the incident he said that I share in the grief of the affected families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the attack on the place of worship is the height of brutality. The nation should fight terrorism with unity.

He prayed for forgiveness for those martyred in the attack and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“We pray that Allah will grant patience to the bereaved family.”

Amir Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Siraj-ul-Haq said that we express our condolences to the families of the martyrs in the blast and wished for the recovery of the injured.

He has also directed the workers of JI’s Al-Khidmat Foundation to donate blood to the victims.

Adviser to the Prime Minister and President of Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) K-P, Engineer Amir Maqam said that the beasts that shed the blood of the worshippers have invoked the wrath of Allah Almighty.

Lambasting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Maqam said, “Had Imran Niazi and his government not slept for 10 years, this situation would not have happened today.”

He said that Imran Niazi was criminally negligent in increasing the capacity and efficiency of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Terrorists are fighting against the security and peace of Pakistan.

Qaumi Watan Party’s (QWP) Central Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao strongly condemned the attack.

They said that this incident should be taken seriously. They ask the law enforcement agencies to take strict measures as it is the need of the hour to ensure sustainable establishment of law and order.

Awami National Party’s (ANP) Provincial President Aimal Wali Khan said that this kind of incident inside the red zone is a question mark on the security situation; the police have become a soft target for terrorists. It was said that terrorists are organizing but no one listened.

“A few people have made K-P a pile of gunpowder for their politics, the state should come to its senses, stop the unrest, end distinction between good and bad Taliban, the only way for peace is to ensure the full implementation of the National Action Plan.”

PTI’s Provincial Spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai said that the explosion in the mosque of the police line is unfortunate and “we are saddened by the loss of precious lives.”

Chairman Minority Rights Forum Pakistan Radesh Singh Tony said that we strongly condemn the suicide blast in Peshawar Police Line Mosque, “Such incidents reflect that there is no humanity left in the people who carry out such heinous acts.”

Speaker K-P Assembly Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani visited the scene of the Peshawar Police Line blast and said that terrorists have no religion and did not stop from targeting the House of Allah.

Speaker Mushtaq Ghani expressed condolences to the police martyrs at the blast site from CCPO Peshawar and said that we stand with our people and K-P Police.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2023.