PESHAWAR: Shocked and enraged by Wednesday’s devastating suicide attack on the funeral of their leader’s wife, volunteers of Adezai Qaumi Lashkar accused the government of leaving them at the mercy of the militants.

Dilawar Khan, head of the lashkar, told Dawn that the government was not supporting them and they were fighting against militants on their own. He also claimed that Provincial Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour was not permitted by furious people to visit the blast site for he had spoken against the volunteers of lashkar a few days ago,Mr Bilour however denied the claim, saying he did visit the place and announced support to the volunteers in their fight against militancy.

The minister visited the area to talk to the victims’ relatives but the locals said he had no right to come there as he had already issued statements to media against the peace body.

“We didn’t allow him to come here because the government considers us extortionists,” Dilawar Khan said and added that people had formed the lashkar on the government’s instructions and now it had stopped supporting it.

The volunteers, he said, had already set a one-week deadline on March 3, that if their demands were not met they would stop supporting the law enforcement agencies against militants.

“Today, we are busy in burial of bodies. Final decision will be taken on Thursday as to what the peace body should do,” he said.

He said that ministers were moving in bulletproof vehicles, leaving people at the mercy of militants. He blamed some of the local legislators and policemen for supporting militants and registering cases against the activists of the peace body.

“We are frequently facing attacks but the government is not even ready to listen to our demands,” he said. He also stated that a woman MPA of PML-Q visited the area and expressed condolence with the people. He said that people welcomed her as she belonged to the opposition party.

The minister, in a statement issued here, assured the lashkar of full support and also appealed to people to extend cooperation to the affected families.

He said that the attackers could not be called as human beings. The government would take all possible steps for eradication of terrorism, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti also visited Lady Reading Hospital and enquired after the health of the injured. He also announced compensation of Rs300,000 each for heirs of killed and Rs100,000 each for the injured.

He said that the lashkar played an important role against militancy and keeping in view the sacrifices of its volunteers, it was the responsibility of the government to extend full support to it.

Mr Hoti said sufficient number of APC vehicles, special police force and regular police force were stationed in the area. He said needs of the lashkar would be fulfilled.