MIANWALI, Oct 6: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani phoned MNA Rasheed Akbar Niwani after the suicide blast and expressed their grief and sorrow over the loss of so many human lives.

The prime minister announced a compensation of Rs300,000 for each dead and Rs100,000 for the injured.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the attack. He sent the IGP, home and health secretaries to Bhakkar by his special plane to probe into the incident besides supervising relief activities there.

The chief minister also directed the health secretary to provide best possible treatment to the injured free of cost and shift those in critical condition to major hospitals.

NIWANIS: After 1982, when Bhakkar tehsil of Mianwali disrict was given the status of district, the Niwani family appeared in the politics of the district and took part in the 1985 party-less elections.

Since then, Rashid Akbar Khan and his younger brother Saeed Akbar Khan retained their seats in each election. Their elder brother Hamid Akbar Khan Niwani is the district nazim.

The Niwanis always contest elections as independents and join the party in power.