Punjab Home Minister was martyred in a suicide attack in Attock on Sunday
ATTOCK (Dunya News) – Slain Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada was laid to rest ahead of midnight on Sunday at his native village Shadi Khan, Dunya News reported.
The funeral prayer of Khanzada and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shaukat Shah was offered at Attock Police Line in which Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervaiz Khattak among several other prominent personalities participated.
Shuja Khanzada, Shaukhat Shah and 17 others were killed in a terrorist attack at Khanzada’s Dera at his native village on Sunday.
Reportedly, Khanzada was visiting to condole with people over his cousin’s death and decided to stay a little longer at his Dera in his native Shadi Khan village when the terrorists struck.
Following the explosion – believed to be suicide blast – roof of the premises collapsed and several people including Khanzada were trapped in the rubble. Eye witnesses say Khanzada passed away shortly after.
The eyewitnesses say Khanzada shook hands with a man and sat down at the Dera alongside and the explosion took place one or two minutes after.
Some of the people killed were identified as Asif Khan, Muhammad Bashir, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Fayaz, Muhammad Ajmal, Muhammad Usman, Amir Afzal, Sardari Ghulam Khan, Haji Zamurd Khan, Naseer Khan, Abdul Quyyum, Muhammad Zaman, Naveed Mushtaq and Gharib Nawaz.
Mourning announcements
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif announced three-day mourning across the province while the Azad Kashmir government has announced one day mourning period.
Preliminary inquiry report
As per the preliminary report, most casualties took place because of entrapment under the rubble while ball bearings and nut bolts were not used in the attack.
Sources said that investigation process of the Attock explosion has begun and evidence is being collected from the scene.
It includes eyewitness accounts, body fragments of attackers, explosive material among other.
The bomb disposal squad sources said that this wasn’t a conventional suicide attack in which ball bearings and nut bolts are used but this was something new.
The report said that the suicide bomber blew himself while standing close to a pillar which caused the building to collapse.
Inspector General (IG) Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera also confirmed the same while talking to the media.
Last TV appearance on Dunya News’ Badal Dou show
Khanzada’s last TV appearance was on Dunya News’ show Badal Dou with Iftikhar Ahmed that aired at 10pm on August 15, just one day before he embraced martyrdom.
Slain Punjab Home Minister had vowed to continue fighting terrorism and their backers especially in the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and not-for-profit sectors.
Prominent leaders including President, PM, Army chief condemn Attock attack
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif among other leadership strongly condemned terrorist attack in Attock that left Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada killed.
President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain termed Khanzada’s martyrdom as tragic. He said in a statement that Khanzada’s martyrdom won’t go wasted.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also termed the attack as cowardly and made it clear that terrorists will be chased till the end. He directed to take immediate action against culprits behind the attack.
Army Chief expressed condolence on the incident and said that Shuja Khanzada sacrificed his life for a great cause, adding that acts of terrorism cannot shake determination against terrorism.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the incident while terming it a cowardly act.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan expressed grief and said that he stands with the nation against all acts of terrorism.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said that the National Action Plan (NAP) needs to be implemented fully.
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said that Khanzada’s sacrifice will not go wasted, adding that terrorists will not escape exemplary end.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad phoned CM Punjab and expressed condolences over the killings. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch also strongly condemned the attack.
Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khurshid Shah and Jamaat Islami chief Sirajul Haq also expressed condolence on the incident.
Former Chief Minister Punjab Pervez Elahi also strongly condemned the attack and urged Shahbaz Sharif to lead and run the Punjab Home Ministry himself.