Pakistan: Peshawar suicide attack death toll touches 20
Peshawar, July 11 (IBNS): The death toll in a suicide attack that hit a political rally in Pakistan's Peshawar city, which claimed the life of politician Barrister Haroon Bilour, has touched 20, media reports said on Saturday.
Presently, 62 people injured in the suicide attack are seeking treatment at Lady Reading Hospital, authorities confirmed to Geo News.
The suicide attack occurred on Tuesday in the Yakatoot neighbourhood moments after Bilour arrived to address a corner meeting.
The Pakistani leader was scheduled to fight the July 25 elections from Peshawar's PK-78 constituency.
According to reports, he will be buried at Wazir Bagh at 5pm on Wednesday.
He was 47.
A case has been registered in connection with the case.
As per Geo News report, following the incident, the Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the polls in PK-78 (Peshawar-XIII) constituency.
Suicide attack triggers condemnation:
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the attack which occurred just days before the polls.
Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted: " COAS shares grief of Bilour family & ANP on condemnable targeting of Haroon Bilour & victims of heinous terrorist attk.'We are fighting against nexus of inimical forces which aren’t willing to absorb a peaceful & stable Pakistan. We remain undeterred & shall IA defeat them' COAS."
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif tweeted: "Shocking news from Peshawar: Grieved to learn about shahadat of Haroon Bilour. Strongly condemn this barbaric act of terrorism on a public meeting. Its govt & ECP's responsibility 2 provide fool-proof security 2 political parties leaders. My condolences to bereaved families & ANP."
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan also condoled the loss of the politician in the suicide attack and said all political parties and their candidates must be provided proper security.
"Sad to learn of Haroon Bilour and 2 other ANP workers deaths and strongly condemn the terrorist attack at the ANP corner mtg in Peshawar. All political parties and their candidates must be provided proper security during their election campaigns by the State," he tweeted.
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