ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali have expressed shock over the losses in a series of explosions in the country’s Northern Areas which killed at least 45 people and injured more than 100.

The president and the prime minister, in separate condolence messages, held out assurance to provide possible assistance to the affected families.

The prime minister said he had directed the Pakistan Ministry of Northern Areas and concerned authorities to take urgent steps to assist all those affected, including proper medical treatment to those injured in the explosions.

The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The blasts are believed to have been caused by explosives used for road building which were stored in the home of a local contractor, Waris Khan, who also died in the tragic incident.—PPI