Kocha Risaldar blast: A deadly dinner for Pak Hotel patrons

Seven of Tuesday night’s blast victims buried in Kurram Agency.

PESHAWAR: Muhammad Shah Said and his cousin had stopped at Pak Hotel for a bite; they were both in town to attend to a personal matter. Like others at the hotel, they were unaware of what was in store for them, like many of the rest, they were also from Parachinar.

Shah, who walked The Express Tribune through the events of Tuesday night, has sustained injuries in the head and chest



“My cousin, Noor Qambar, was sitting across the table while we were waiting for our food. We were discussing how we were going to deal with what we were in town for when there was a deafening blast. I touched my face, everything was red with blood, and then I saw my cousin’s body in front of me.”

Qambar was one of nine people who lost their lives. “I could see bodies drenched in blood, limbs scattered across the room, but I could not speak or react,” shared Shah.

Shah recalled everything in visceral detail till that point; he had no recollection of what happened later or how he got to the hospital.

Out of the 61 people injured in Tuesday’s suicide blast at Pak Hotel, at least 43 are still admitted at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). Four of them are in critical condition; 18 others have been discharged, according to the LRH media cell.

The suicide attack which killed nine people so far and left dozens injured, including four children, took place in the vicinity of Imambargah Alamdar in Kocha Risaldar.

For Syed Jaffer, it was like doomsday, with resounding cries of help and bodies all around. Jaffer, who is in his fifties, was injured in his chest and arms.

The building is surrounded by congested alleys, which is why ambulances and rescue crew took a long time to reach, explained Jaffer.

“I had lost all hope, I had death staring me in the eye and I thought I wasn’t going to survive. I can only wonder how I’m still breathing.”



Relatives of 50-year-old Yaqoob Ali revealed the blast left him unconscious. When he regained consciousness at the hospital, the doctors had to forcibly sedate him as he could not stop shouting in pain.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Zaheerul Islam visited the hospital on Wednesday to inquire about the patients’ health and arrangements for their treatment. Islam assured relatives of the injured that all measures will be taken to ensure the blast victims’ recovery.

LRH Medical Superintendent Iqbal Afridi claimed the hospital is equipped with all facilities required to handle such a tragedy.

Doctors and nurses were providing the best treatment possible to all patients, added Afridi. He confirmed 18 people with minor injuries had already been discharged.

Last rites

Seven Kurram Agency tribesmen who were killed in the attack were shifted to Parachinar headquarters of the agency on Wednesday morning.

The bodies were taken to the central imambargahs in Parachinar where hundreds gathered to take their loved ones for burial.

A collective funeral prayer was held, led by Allama Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammadi.



Afterwards, Muhammadi addressed the congregation, condemning the incident.

The seven tribesmen were identified as Masim Ali and Safar Ali, residents of Karman; Mumtaz Hussain, Syed Sher Agha, and Syed Hassan from Parachinar; Ghon Ali, a resident of Ahmadzai; and Noor Qambar hailing from Zerhan. Their remains were taken to their hometowns for burial.

With additional input from our correspondent in Parachinar

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2014.