At least 12 killed in Kohat blast, several wounded

Dawn.com | Agencies Published February 23, 2014

Security officials examine the site of a bomb blast in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 23, 2014. — Photo by Reuters

Relatives and mourners of a boy who was killed in a bomb blast gather around his body at a hospital in Kohat, Pakistan, Sunday, February 23, 2014. — Photo by AP

KOHAT: An explosion on Hangu road near Police Lines area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kohat district on Sunday killed at least 12 people and injured several others, DawnNews reported.

According to latest reports from rescue sources, two more victims of today's blast died, while under treatment at the Lady Reading Hospital, bringing the total death toll of the incident to 12.

Earlier, district police chief Salim Khan Marwat talking to AFP said “After getting the latest reports from the hospitals where the dead bodies and injured were taken, we can now confirm that 10 people have been killed and 14 others are injured.”

Security and rescue teams rushed to the site of explosion which was heard across a long distance.

Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, Nasir Khan Durrani, said the blast took place near a passenger vehicle at Peshawar chowk on Hangu road.

Rejecting the notion that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber, he said that it appeared to have been carried out using a planted device.

Durrani further said that according to initial reports, five kilograms of explosives were used in the blast which were planted in a wooden crate placed on the roadside.

The explosives were detonated as a passenger wagon reached Peshawar chowk, injuring the occupants of the vehicle and the driver of a rickshaw parked nearby.

The victims were shifted to Liaquat Memorial Hospital whereas security personnel cordoned off the area. The Bomb Disposal Squad had also reached the blast site.

Further details of the attack and nature of the blast were not known till the filing of this report.

— Zahir Shah Shirazi contributed to the reporting of this story

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Amir Bangash

Feb 23, 2014 03:46pm

Afghanistan was set on fire and people across the border remained comfortable as it brought dollars and food for the insurgents as well as others. The flames rose to sky after the incident of 9/11 and with it FATA also started burning but people of the adjacent areas remained calm as they were less affected. Now KPK has been burning since long and people across the rivers are trying to restrict the fire but they are unaware of the fact that it is heading eastward. The Government should do some thing to stop it before it gets out of reach..

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Ayaz

Feb 23, 2014 05:16pm

@Amir Bangash: I agree ... It is just a matter of time.

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Naseer

Feb 23, 2014 07:54pm

Taliban problem cannot be solved in one day or one month or even one year. To root it out completely, it will have to be a long drawn out campaign. Unfortunately hiding in sand or delaying it will only worsen the situation. A decisive action followed by dialogue is the only solution. Dialogue will not succeed until the Taliban are made to realize the might and will of the people, army and politicians of Pakistan. Media has an important role to play. If we want to save this country, we will all have to rise above politics. petty differences and selfish motives will only aggravate the situation. Government and people of Pakistan should be prepared for all kinds of retaliatory actions. Following the example of Saudi Arabia, check posts should be made on every highway and every road connecting towns and cities, no matter how small or irrelevant the road may seem. It will have to be a long drawn out effort. Check posts should be on the pattern of a bunker which should be bomb proof. People of Pakistan, politicians and army should be ready to brave the initial retaliatory attacks. Three to six months would be tough, then the action would probably start showing some positive results. That should be the time to start negotiations. First and foremost Taliban should be made to realize that there cannot be any negotiation on the constitution. Constitution is the only sharia that the majority of people of Pakistan will accept.

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Rex Minor

Feb 24, 2014 04:20am

@Amir Bangash: Pakistan has the Government which came into power on the mandate of peace, a dialogue and coexistance. Now it ihas decided to cohibit with the new military and Pakistanis on the other side of the river are not even aware of this change. The Media is keeping mum! Rex Minor

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rex Minor

Feb 24, 2014 03:52pm

2nd attempt; @Amir Bangash: PM army with the PM Prime Minister is now on the rampage in KPK, the garrison towns have a direct military rule while their aircrafts are bombing village population. You will have to wait to know about the casualty numbers until the western reporters arrive from Afghanistan Rex Minor

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