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PARACHINAR: The death toll from Friday’s suicide blast and subsequent firing by security forces on protesters in Parachinar rose to 41 on Saturday.
A tense calm prevailed as complete shutdown was observed in Parachinar bazaar. All shops, markets, business centres and educational institutions remained closed.
According to local people and hospital sources, 15 more people succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. Two of the injured died in Peshawar, one on way to a hospital and 12 in the agency headquarters hospital in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram tribal region.
The powerful explosion after Friday prayers ripped through Kurrmi bazaar, killing 23 people and injuring 37 others. Another three people died and 12 suffered injuries when security personnel opened fire when people enraged by the massacre started protesting and attacking public and private property.
According to security forces, in all 35 people were killed in the suicide attack and four in security forces’ firing.
Curfew remained imposed in the town on Saturday and Thall-Parachinar road has been closed for an indefinite period because of security reasons.
Meanwhile, elders of Turi and Bangash tribes, members of civil society, political and social circles condemned the suicide blast and the firing by security forces on the innocent protesters.
They said there was no suicide attack when the town was in the control of Shia volunteers. But as soon as security forces took control of the area and set up bunkers and security posts such incidents started taking place, they alleged.
They held the political administration and secret agencies responsible for the violence in Kurram. They alleged that some hidden hands were patronising militants to create the law and order situation.
They demanded immediate removal of the political agent in Kurram.
