KP to mourn DI Khan suicide attack for three days

Published October 17, 2013
Security officials gather at the site of a suicide bomb blast in the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan October 16, 2013. — Photo by AFP
Security officials gather at the site of a suicide bomb blast in the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan October 16, 2013. — Photo by AFP

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government Thursday announced three-day mourning in the province over the Dera Ismail suicide attack in which eight people, including law minister Israrullah Gandapur, were killed, DawnNews reported.

Moreover, the national flag would fly at half-mast on all the government buildings in the province during the course of the three-day mourning. Meanwhile, all the government activities and ceremonies were suspended in KP on account of Eidul Azha.

Earlier on Wednesday, at least eight people, including Gandapur, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside his residence in Dera Ismail Khan.

More than 30 people were wounded in the attack, including Gandapur's elder brother.

Gandapur was a member of the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), a party led by former cricketer Imran Khan which favours peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban. He is the most senior member of the party to have been killed so far.

Separately, KP chief minister Pervez Khattak summoned an emergency meeting of the provincial cabinet at 4 pm today.

According to Sheraz Paracha, spokesman for the provincial chief minister, the meeting would review the overall security situation of the province.

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