At least 30 people were killed and 70 others injured in a suicide car bomb explosion at congested Farooq e Azam Chowk in Charsadda district on Tuesday afternoon, police said. Dr. Manzoorullah of district headquarters hospital said that six more victims of the blast succumbed to their injuries on late Tuesday evening. The condition of several injured is stated to be critical. The dead also include women and children. The Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has ordered probe of the deadly blast, he added.District Police Officer Charsadda Riaz Khan told APP that apparently a suicide bomber in an explosive packed car blasted himself minutes after he passed through the Farooq e Azam Chowk on Tangi road. He rejected news reports about any security lapse.Eyewitnesses said DPO Charsadda was believed to be target of the terrorists, who narrowly escaped. Nine critical injured were brought to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar for treatment.The deadly blast ripped through near Ghafoor Market famous for traditional Charsadda Chappal at around 4.25 p.m. that usually jam packed with the people as the area being the centre of markets and commercial activities.The injured were shifted to district headquarters Hospital Charsadda and Peshawar for treatment. The explosion was so powerful that its bang was heard in long distance.The thickly populated bazaar turned into rubbles and there was blood everywhere with screaming of the women and children. At least 15 vehicles were damaged and windowpanes of near buildings were smashed while 65 shops were razed to ground.Emergency has been declared in hospitals and doctors on leave have been called in for duty. According to bomb disposal squad, 60 kilogram explosive material has been used by the car bomber. The police soon after the incident cordoned off the area and started search operation.The NWFP Governor and Chief Minister have strongly condemned the attack and termed it cowardice act. They expressed full sympathies with members of the bereaved families and directed the hospital administration to provide all possible treatment to them.District Charsadda is home district of President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan and former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and both the leaders survived life attempt on their lives in the recent past. No organization has so far accepted by the responsibility for the deadly blast.Talking to reporters at site of the blast, NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the government will continue operation till elimination of last terrorist from the country as we have no other option except their total destruction to protect our land from the scourge of militancy and terrorism.We have to be ready for giving more sacrifices for our future generation as we are trapped in gorilla warfare and confronted with hidden enemy.They have now started hitting innocent people in bazaars, markets and public places as their network had been broken in their strongholds, he told reporters during site of deadly car bomb explosion in Charsadda.He said that those, who were found guilty in security lapse, would be brought to justice. The Information Minister declared in clear terms that we will go after the terrorists in every parts of the country whether in tribal areas or settled parts of the province. He urged people to show unity among their ranks to foil terrorist acts in future.Iftikhar said that Charsadda blast may be the fall out of Waziristan operation as their strongholds have been crushed by our brave security forces.NWFP senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour also visited Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and inquired about health of injured persons. He vowed to continue struggle to wipeout militancy and terrorism.
