PM, army chief assess security in Bajaur visit

Shehbaz, Gen Asim visit injured at CMH; death toll rises to 56

PESHAWAR:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir visited Peshawar on Tuesday, where they received a briefing on the security situation in the wake of Bajaur blast that killed 56 people.

Sunday’s suicide bombing, claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militant group – ripped through a workers convention of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in Khar tehsil of the Bajaur district.

During the briefing, the prime minister was informed about the status of investigations and the overall counterterrorism efforts to dismantle terrorist network by disrupting the linkages between planners, executioners, and abettors.

According to a handout, issued by the press wing of the Prime Minister's Office, Shehbaz noted with concern the involvement of the Afghan citizens in the suicide blasts inside Pakistan.

He also expressed his concern over the liberty of action available to the elements hostile to Pakistan in planning and executing such cowardly attacks on innocent civilians from the sanctuaries across the border.

"The Interim Afghan government should undertake concrete measures towards denying its soil to be used for transnational terrorism,” the prime minister was quoted as saying at the briefing.

Later, the prime minister and the army chief visited the wounded people at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and enquired about their health. He also interacted with the bereaved family members of the Khar blast victims.

“The security forces and the law-enforcement agencies with the support of the nation will ensure that those responsible for the dastardly attacks are brought to justice as soon as possible", he said.