MIANWALI / LAYYAH, Oct 7: The town of Bhakkar, terrorised by Monday’s suicide attack on the Dera of MNA Rashid Akbar Khan Niwani presented a deserted look on Tuesday.

All educational institutions, offices and markets remained closed in mourning for the 22 persons who lost their lives in the attack.

Funeral prayers for the victims were offered at the Jamia Rasheedia in an atmosphere of grief and anguish.

Hospital sources said that four of the seriously injured people, including Mr Niwani, had been shifted to the Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore, three to the DHQ Hospital in Sargodha, five to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan and two to a hospital in Faisalabad.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the town on Tuesday and inquired after the health of the injured in the DHQ Hospital.

The chief minister gave cheques for Rs200,000 to each of the injured and Rs500,000 among the heirs of each of the dead.

Mr Sharif also visited the Dera of Mr Niwani.

According to sources, the Niwanis had been receiving threats from a sectarian militant group linked to Al Qaeda and Taliban for some time.

Talking to newsmen, MPA Saeed Akbar Niwani, younger brother of the MNA, said they had no faith in the Bhakkar police probe.

AFP adds: Police sources said that Mr Niwani had earlier received threats from a sectarian militant group linked to Al Qaeda and Taliban.