PESHAWAR – The responsibility for the Peshawar suicide blast that left atleast 20 people dead besides injuring over 62 has been claimed by thePakistan faction of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban.
The central spokesperson for the militant group, Muhammad Khorasani,released a message to media revealing the name of the suicide bomber asAbdul Kareem, taking the onus of the attack that has marred theelectioneering, especially in the war-battered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The senior leader of Awami national party, Haroon Bilour, was the maintarget of the attack at the corner meeting of the party which was convenedat the Yaka Toot area of Peshawar on Tuesday.
Bilour was busy in his election campaign for PK-78 when the suicide bomberripped through the gathering; the Election Commission of Pakistan haspostponed the elections for the said constituency.
According to the spokesperson of Lady Reading hospital, Zulfikar Ali, asmany as 62 people were left injured in the attack, that sent shock wavesacross the country. He added that initially 47 wounded persons were broughtto the hospital.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) confirmed that it was a suicide blast.
Confirming Haroon Bilour’s death, the spokesman said that Haroon’s son,Danial Bilour, was safe.
Haroon was the son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who washimself was martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar in 2012.
The party has decried the attack and has announced that it would announcethe future policy very soon.