Peshawar church bombing: Death toll rises to 83. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL
PESHAWAR: As the death toll of the All Saints Church bombing in Peshawar rose to 83, the investigation team reached location of the blast again on Monday and started to take statements from the victims of the attack, Express News reported.
A clean up of the church has also started after the main gate was opened.
The twin suicide bombing at a church service at All Saints Church in Peshawar on Sunday is believed to be the country’s deadliest attack on Christians. No one claimed responsibility for the incident.
The two attackers struck at the end of a service at the church in Peshawar, the main town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which has borne the brunt of a bloody insurgency in recent years.
New IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
Three police officers were nominated by the KP government from which Nasir Durani, former DIG Rawalpindi has been chosen by the prime minister as IG KP.
Protests
Christians demonstrated in towns and cities around Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Faisalabad, to protest against the violence and demand better protection from the authorities.
In Islamabad more than 600 protesters blocked a major city highway for several hours during the Monday morning rush hour, causing long tailbacks, an AFP photographer said.
In Karachi, there have been protests by the Christian community near Korangi crossing, Isa Nagri, Liaquatabad, Numaish Chowrangi and even outside Karachi Press Club.
The K-P government announced Rs500,000 in compensation to the families of victims in the attack.
The small and largely impoverished Christian community suffers discrimination in overwhelmingly Muslim-majority Pakistan but bombings against them are extremely rare.
COMMENTS (22)
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the killing of christians need to stop, muslims need to stand up and fight against Islamist Jihadists.
Unless we can entertain the idea that all religions are man made and God does not exist. We will continue to have problems
We send our deepest heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. We hope that they will find the strength to deal with this tragedy. We cannot use words to describe the barbaric nature of this attack. We hope the culprits will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. We repeat what Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: “The terrorists have no religion, and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions. Such cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mind set of the terrorists.” The terrorists remain fully focused on destabilizing the region with these acts of terror. But we will not let them break our shared will and desire to restore peace in the region.
Ali Khan DET, United States Central Command
Ahmed, I will not go into a debate,so i will reply to you once only..,"assumptions that the West has committed far worse atocities"...have you read anything about the 2 world wars, the jewish holocaust, vietnam, bosnia, hiroshima... the list goes on and on. "by taking it easy" i meant not to self deprecate oneself(by asking everyone to immigrate)
@aqib: "Well,if you read history, there have been a lot of condemnable acts far worse committed by them(including recently), than what has happened in our land in the last 10 years."
I believe none of your own have suffered a tragedy thus far. I don't think you will have the strength to say this if God forbid you happen to be a victim in one of these attacks in anyway. Believe me you won't be able to "Take it a little easy" then. You still take refuge in your assumptions that the West committed far worse atrocities then whatever happens/has happened on our land. This indifference to our own suffering speaks volumes of our plight.
@Aysha M: Tell me one good reason why Muslim like you should not be treated as you treat different in non Muslim nations?
Simply punish the killers, and their aiders and abettors and do that quickly. It is as simple as that.
Terrorists don't need lawyers, when they have advocates like Imran Khan, and Nawaz Sharif.
g: I can not agree more with you. The taliban are not only Pakistan's problem, but the region's. The US has successfully killed many of their leaders with few civilians thanks to the drone attacks; considering this is a war against extremism that threatens Pakistan's existence, we should be grateful. Indeed, our armed forces should be given free reign to wipe these bestial ways off our map, collaborating with the USA would not be a bad idea considering they have technologies that our armed forces do not. If our intelligence services, armed forces and government could beat out a strategy and carry it through with or without outside help, at least it would be a great start. No more dithering - the cost in human life and devastating suffering can not continue with total impunity. No more freeing of these unforgivable men from our prisons, let the law come down on them with no mercy, just as they do not show any mercy towards the innocent lives they destroy, property, and much more. Enough is enough. My sincerest sorrow and prayers for all those who have lost loved ones at this dastardly act, and wishes for the speedy recovery of those in hospitals. May they be blessed with fortitude during these immensely trying times. A feeling of sorrow, impotence since yesterday...
@Asim Ali, Take it a little easy. You talk about reading civilization of the West through history. Well,if you read history, there have been a lot of condemnable acts far worse committed by them(including recently), than what has happened in our land in the last 10 years.
I was speechless when i saw the picture of the the little girl wounded sitting on the floor in the hospital. She was in between 2 beds with 2 wounded adults each who were also waiting. I was in tears, i don't know why. i should not care.
No need to worry about this or other continuing attacks on Pak soil and on innocents. Pakistan is going to negotiate with the Taliban while this goes on and then a deal will be reached and all will be good (as long as the deal is to officially turn the country over to the Taliban and Shia law).
Annihilate the Taliban. Work with the US and crush them. Stop trying to be proud and pretending you are sovereign in the tribal areas where they rule. Invite some US special forces in and attack with devastating force.
@Angryburger: dear bro u r absoultely correct... if we are unite .. we can defeat them.
First they came for the Shia's, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Shia.
Then they came for the Ahmedi's, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Ahmedi.
Then they came for the Christians , and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Christian .
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.
@Aysha M: We share your absolute and unqualified feelings. Salams
May Allah Almighty in His infinite wisdom teach the misguided citizens of this unfortunate country to come on the RIGHT PATH. Salams
Whoever (obviously Taliban) is behind this barbaric act deserve sever punishment.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of injured and dead. R.I.P
Half of a Minster's security could have prevented this shameful act of terrorists, if deployed outside of Church.
While we watch and read these senseless acts of terrorism and no one seems to be incharge, it is only my humble request to the civilized society of this country to immigrate. The senseless acts, the senseless talk shows, the senseless parliament, combined have taken us to the uncivilized ages which are read in history books of the civilized West. Read these books once you leave this country
Inallilahe waa ina alhe rajay oon May Allah bless the departed souls and be with the aggrieved families. And may all those who are unable to issue fatwa against suicide bombing and killings of innocents be questioned by Allah (ameen)
Are you sure no one claimed responsibility? I read Dawn in the morning and TTP has claimed responsibility. Apparently a faction of TTP has decided to focus on attacks against non-Muslims.