At least 14 civilians, including eight lawyers, have been killed and 60 others injured in two bomb blasts in near Mardan’s district and sessions court, reported Waqt News.
Sources have said that the first explosion was caused by a hand grenade thrown inside the gate followed by a suicide blast at the entrance of the court.
A heavy contingent of security forces have secured the area while emergency has been imposed in hospitals in the area.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with families of those killed. PM has said, "Enhanced ability and capacity of our security agencies including army, FC and police to promptly neutralize the terrorist’s attacks is highly appreciated."
The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the security officials for successfully neutralizing the terrorists without any loss of life and property of the people.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that terrorists shall not get space to hide in Pakistan.
In his condemnation message, the Prime Minister said these receding elements are showing frustration by attacking soft targets.
He said these cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve in our war against terrorism.
Minister of Interior Ch. Nisar has ordered forensic teams to collect data and trace the terrorists by their finger prints through NADRA, reported waqt news.
After the militants attacked in Peshawar and Mardan, Ch. Nisar issued a statement saying, “The forensic teams should collect data from the site. Finger prints will be tallied by the NADRA data.” It will assist in reaching the culprits.
According to DIG Peshawar has said, 11 people have died and 41 are injured."
Sindh Bar Council has announced to boycott all court proceedings on Saturday and Monday.
IG Punjab Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera has ordered to enhance security in Punjab after the attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has strongly condemned the bomb blasts at district courts Mardan.
Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain have strongly condemned the terrorist attacks.
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said, "I will visit KP to meet the brave people of the province who are always a target of such atrocities. The govt should make sure of providing them proper health facilities." He expressed grief and sorrow over loss of precious lives in terror attack. Imran said those behind the terrorist attack will be brought to justice.
The district and sessions court area of Mardan is said to be one the busiest areas in the morning which hints that the terrorists goal was to ensure maximum amount of civilian casualties.
This terrorist attempt has occurred only hours after a terror bid were foiled by security forces in Peshawar.
It is worth mentioning here that these two attacks have occurred only a day after DG ISPR Asim Bajwa held a press conference in which he mentioned details regarding the Zarb-e-Azb operation.
Later today the army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif reached Mardaan where he visited the Mardaan Medical Complex to express solidarity with the injured and to inquire about their condition.
** Images: AFP
