PESHAWAR: An explosion took place at a Tablighi markaz (religious centre) on Pajjagi Road in Pakistan’s northwestern Peshawar city on Thursday evening, killing at least eight persons and injuring 67 others.
Meanwhile, the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) strongly condemned the attack on Tablighi markaz in Peshawar and offered regrets to the families of those who lost their lives blast.
we strongly condemn attack on TABLIGHI MARKAZ in Peshawar.We offer our regrets to the families of those who killed in this blast.
— Ehsanullah Ehsan (@ehsanullah_ttp) January 16, 2014
The blast occurred when more than 800 people were inside the Tablighi markaz for a Shab-Juma (Thursday) congregation and offering Maghrib prayers.
The injured persons were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for medical treatment. Meanwhile, police personnel and rescue teams reached the blast site.
The AIG Bomb Disposal Unit Shafqat Malik said that 5 kilograms of explosive materials were used in the Peshawar blast.
Prime Minister Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak strongly condemned the incident and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives as a result of the blast.
The provincial information minister Shaukat Yousafzai condemned the blast and said that the government will investigate the blast to find out who are against the peace in the province.
The minister said that that in case of any negligence on the part of police strict action will be taken against those responsible.
