Shah Noorani shrine blast: Startling facts revealed in investigations
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ISLAMABAD: (APP) Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rehman on Thursday said a 14 years old boy entered Shah Noorani shrine from women section to carry out blast that killed 36 faithful injuring 59 when visitors were performing `Dhamal.'
Winding up discussion on the incident, the minister said, relief activities were delayed due to difficult terrain as relievers had to tread five kilometers through a rough passage to reach the shrine.
"It was the afternoon when this boy entered the shrine in a burqa' through the women section as he first sprayed bullet with a 9 mm gun and then blasted himself. At the time of blast around 5000 visitors were present in the compound of shrine," he stated.
Among the dead, the minister said, 34 people belonged to Sindh especially Karachi and two were from Balochistan.
"This place is situated far off from the road in the midst of mountains and one to tread five kilometers on foot to reach it. This delayed relief activists to reach the place."
He said it is a private shrine and is not managed by either Auqaf department of the provincial government or the district government. Although it is situated in Khuzdar district jurisdiction, the only way to reach leads through Lasbela district.
He said usually a ten member section of Levies is deployed at shrine but at the time of blast only one personnel was on duty.
About linkages of the blast with CPEC, he said, there can be a possibility because it occurred just a day before the departure of first convoy of containers to world destinations through Gwadar Port.
"Since parts of CPEC highway is properly guarded, this was the soft target to strike."
He said the terrorists might have tried to create an impression that Pakistan was not safe for business and investment.
"It was a desperate attempt. They are on the run and targeting soft targets."
He reiterated the resolve of the government to fight terrorism till this menace is rooted out and said with the implementation of National Action Plan terrorist incidents have declined visibly as compared four years back.
"We shall continue this fight for safety and security of our people and bring peace to society," he added.
