Tehrek-I-Taliban has claimed responsibility of attack on US Consulate in Peshawar and Lower Dir that killed 8 in Peshawar & 48 in Lower Dir

BY KASWAR KLASRA

ISLAMABAD,PAKISTAN: Tehrek-I-Taliban has claimed responsibility of attacks on US Consulate in Peshawar and Lower Dir ( Swat , Pakistan)that killed 8 in Peshawar and 48 in Lower Dir.

According to Spokesperson of Tehrek-I-Taliban told reporters over telephone from undisclosed location their faithful have attacked in Peshawar and Swat on Monday. It is pertinent to mention here that eight people including two security men and four attackers were killed in Peshawar while a massive bomb attack in a rally in Swat left 48 people dead and scores received multiple injuries.

According to sources from law enforcement agencies the terrorists attempted to cause devastation in a high security zone of Peshawar city while their prime target was US Consulate.

When contacted by this correspondent on Monday, a spokesperson of US Embassy in Pakistan’s Capital Islamabad confirmed that terrorists attacked an US Consulate in

Peshawar, however he denied sharing further detail.

According to security officials cause of the blast was still to be known. Television footage showed a heavy mushroom cloud and smoke rising into the air over the garrison part of the city, close to the US consulate and the Peshawar headquarters of Pakistan’s top spy agency, bombed last November.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has strongly condemned the blasts in Lower Dir and Peshawar today, which resulted in the loss of precious lives.

In Lower Dir death toll in a blast that ripped through the rally of a ruling political party in Lower Dir area of Swat , Pakistan rose to 40.

The blast occurred at ANP’S public rally in Timergarah Tehsil of Lower Dir; the rally was being taken out as thanksgiving, as the name of the province was changed to Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw. The Party kept secret its program to celebrate over the new name of the province.

The Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Timergarah Doctor Wakil said at least 25 bodies and over 100 badly injured were brought to the hospital. The injured were shifted to the nearby hospitals. The local people initially started relief work on self-help basis.

According to DIG Qazi Jameel, the blast occurred near a guesthouse. Emergency has been declared in all hospitals in the area. The injured include the bother of the ANP leader Haji Adeel. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has strongly condemned the blasts in Lower Dir and Peshawar today, which resulted in the loss of precious lives.

The Foreign Minister said that terrorism couldn’t be allowed to succeed. The people and the Government of Pakistan are determined to root out this menace and make Pakistan a stable and prosperous country. He stressed that there cannot be any compromise who are hellbent to continue resorting to violence and carrying out heinous acts of terrorism.

The Foreign Minister expressed his profound condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast.