Sibi blast: Victim identified as an army officer

One of the bodies, charred beyond recognition in Sibi train attack on Apr 8 has been identified as an army officer.

QUETTA: One of the bodies, charred beyond recognition in the attack on the passenger train in Sibi on April 8 has been identified as Muhammad Asghar, an army officer. The Medico Legal Officer, Ali Mardan confirmed on Tuesday that the army had taken DNA samples to determine the identity of their missing soldier. “We received the results of the DNA samples today and it has been confirmed that the body is of the army official, Asghar Shah who belonged to Punjab. The body has been handed over for burial,” he added. After the identification of one body, it is now clear that the remaining unidentified bodies—including three children are of the Hindu family travelling in the train. At least 17 people—including eight members of a Hindu family were killed in an attack on Quetta-Pindi bound Jaffar Express at Sibi Railway Station on April 8. As many as nine bodies were charred beyond recognition and had been kept at morgue.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2014.