PESHAWAR, Jan 28: Traders stunned by Saturday’s devastating blast which killed 13 people, including senior police officers, kept their shops closed and a tense calm prevailed in the provincial capital on Sunday. All vehicles entering or leaving the city were being checked and paramilitary troops and police personnel patrolled sensitive areas to provide protection to Muharram processions and congregation.

(Extraordinary security measures have also been taken all over the country in the wake of the Peshawar suicide blast and a similar attack in Islamabad a day earlier and Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told newsmen that army troops were on standby to be deployed to any of the 40 districts considered potential flashpoints for violence on Ashura. Sharp-shooters from police and paramilitary forces, he said, had been posted around mosques.)

Meanwhile, Additional AIG Investigation Fiaz Ahmad Khan Toru who is heading a joint investigation team comprising officials of Inter Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence, told Dawn in Peshawar that an ‘important lead’ had been found.

“We have found an important lead. We are working on that and will hopefully reach the perpetrators of the crime.”

He said the clue indicated involvement of a foreign country. He did not elaborate.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that it was a case of trained suicide bombing,” he said. “We have collected pieces of human flesh, skin, shirt, belt, grenades, nut and bolts and two severed legs” from the site, he added.

All these things were being tested, he said, adding that DNA tests would also be carried out.

In view of the importance of the case, he said, several high-ranking officials from police, CID, MI, IB and ISI were carrying out interrogations from different aspects.

Federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said he believed the attack had targeted police force.

“Foreign elements are involved in the suicide attacks in Peshawar and Islamabad,” he said while talking to newsmen at the Peshawar Police Lines after funeral prayers for the slain police officers and constables.

He said the army had been put on high alert in several districts, and it might be deployed in Peshawar to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, DIG Special Branch Abdul Majid Marwat has been appointed city police chief in place of Malik Saad who lost his life in the suicide attack.

The new police chief told newsmen that security arrangements in the city had been tightened further and points of entry into the city were being monitored strictly.

According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber blew himself up as he neared the police officers who were reviewing security arrangements along the route of the Muharram procession.

Governor Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Mohammed Hamid, federal and provincial ministers, senators, MNAs, MPAs, senior government officials and thousands of people attended the funeral prayers for the policemen whose bodies had been wrapped in national flag.

Later, the remains of Malik Saad were sent to his native town Kohat for burial. The bodies of other policemen also were sent to their hometowns.

Governor Aurakzai visited the Lady Reading Hospital and the Hayatabad Medical Complex to inquire after the health of the injured. He prayed for their early recovery.

He told newsmen that terrorists wanted to destroy peace and harmony in the country, but they would not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs.

He appealed to the people to remain peaceful and help the government in exposing the anti-state elements.

COMPENSATION: The provincial government announced a compensation of Rs5 million for Malik Saad’s family which will also be entitled to the facility of the official car and residence for 10 years and the police chief’s salary till his retirement time.