KOHAT, Feb 18: A Peshawar High Court judge has formally begun an inquiry into the Hangu bomb attack and the sectarian violence that followed the incident at a camp office established in the Kohat Circuit House.

On Saturday, Justice Fazlur Rehman took the oath of acceptance of the inquiry commission from three elders belonging to the Shia and Sunni sects, Civil Judge Wali Mohammad Khan informed Dawn.

Justice Rehman assured both the parties that the inquiry commission would be impartial and the motive behind the blasts would be uncovered. He promised to punish those responsible for the incident, which claimed the lives of 40 people.

At least 485 shops were set alight by the angry mob after the blast.

The commission will start recording the statements of witnesses from Monday. It will record the statements of eight people from each side over a period of six days.

Saturday’s meeting of the commission was attended by the district and sessions judge in Kohat, Syed Yayha Zahid Gilani, civil judge I- Wali Mohammad Khan, SSP, Kohat Dr Ishtiaq Marwat and other court officials.

Members of the commission are likely to tour Hangu and inspect the affected areas in order to assess damage to property as soon as curfew is lifted and normalcy returns to the city.

The main task of the commission is to determine who was responsible for the disturbances.

NWFP Chief Minister Mohmmad Akram Durrani had appointed a high court judge to launch an inquiry into the violence which took place after the suicide bomb blast. Mr Durrani had asked the commission to submit its findings within 30 days.

But the inquiry could not be initiated on time on account of the tense situation prevailing in Hangu. The commission now has only 20 days to complete its report.