Caretaker KP CM forms blast JIT, resolves to hold timely by-elections

Caretaker KP CM forms blast JIT, resolves to hold timely by-elections

PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan on Tuesday formed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the suicide attack in mosque at Police Lines in Peshawar. 

He said the by-polls would be held in time despite the rise in terrorism tide in the province. 

The announcement was made at a joint press conference by the chief minister and KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari a day after the brazen attack at a mosque in the Peshawar Police Lines – one of the fortified zones in the provincial capital. 

The chief minister confirmed that 95 people had lost their lives, adding that a compensation package was being prepared for the victims of the terrorist attack. He also assured full support to the police chief, adding that the incident was “shocking for all of us”. 

In a reply to a question over elections, CM Khan said the recent terror attack had nothing to do with polls, adding that terror incidents were taking place much before the announcement of elections.  “My message to the people is to keep their spirits high. Such things are happening here for the last 40 years; this is not a new thing,” said Mr Khan.  Speaking on the occasion, the IGP said the JIT would be led by a DIG and it would include officials of other security agencies as well. He vowed that all perpetrators involved in the attack would be taken to the task.

Read More: KP govt announces one-day mourning as death toll in Peshawar blast reaches 95

He said investigation was being made into the security lapse as “the first question arises in the mind is that how the suicide bomber entered the Police Lines”. He said 10-12 kilogramme of explosive material was used in the attack. The shockwaves of the blast were so powerful that the roof of the mosque collapsed resulting in more damages.

IGP Ansari said a banned outfit retracted after claiming responsibility for the attack, adding that a militant organisation Jamaatul Ahraar could be behind the attack.

 

The KP’s top police officer said the CCTV footages of last one month were being examined, adding that there was a movement of 1,500-2,000 people in the Police Lines in a day. Vowing to take the investigation to a logical conclusion, he said the limbs of the terrorists had been sent for forensic examination.

On Monday, a suicide bomber, who was standing in the first row when Zuhr prayers were being offered in the mosque, blew himself up, causing massive destruction. The terrorist attack was widely condemned by the local politicians and world leaders.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who visited the Peshawar shortly after the blast, has called for the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) with full force.

In a statement, the premier said such cowardly terror attacks couldn’t weaken resolve of the nation against terrorism, adding that the miscreants and their facilitators involved in attacks on innocent citizens would be punished for their heinous crimes.

The premier said terrorists were attacking the security institutions, which were defending Pakistan, adding the terrorists were making a nefarious attempt to create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the country. He also called for implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) with full force to curb the resurgence of terrorism.