KOHAT, PESHAWAR: Two bombs exploded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Peshawar and Kohat areas on Sunday killing at least eight persons and injuring 30 others.
Talking to Dawn.com Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the militant organisation was behind Sunday's twin attacks and the attacks on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) election offices in Karachi a day earlier.
An election office of an independent candidate contesting elections from NA-46, Nasir Khan, was targeted on Charsadda road in Peshawar's Maqsoodabad area killing at least three persons and injuring 15 others.
Nasir Khan talking to Dawn.com said that those behind the incident were trying to sabotage the upcoming elections and derail the process. He added that a political gathering was scheduled at the party office, which was targeted in the attack, and that the event had now been cancelled.
Superintendent of Rural Police Shafiullah Khan told Dawn.Com that Khan had established his election office in Maqsoodabad area, where he had a good number of voters. He said that the election office had been targeted with a remote control bomb.
“About three kilograms of explosives were used while a nine volt battery and other material, accessories, including ball bearings have also been recovered from the spot,” he said, adding, “three people have died while over a dozen have been injured in the blast.”
Nasir Khan had erected billboards and displayed banners with messages against militants in the constituency he is contesting elections from, which could be a reason why he was targeted.
According to reports the bomb was planted on a motorcycle.
The victims were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (r) Tariq Pervez and provincial Information Minister Mussarat Qadeem condemned the twin bombings in Peshawar and Kohat, and offered condolence. They assured the victims and their heirs of compensation.
Earlier, a bomb exploded near the election office of NA-39's independent candidate Syed Noor Akbar Alam on Hangu road in Kacha Pakka village of Kohat region killing at least five people and injuring 15 others.
The blast was heard across Kohat city and caused damage to nearby shops, buildings and parked cars.
District Police Office Dilawar Bangash told Dawn.com that the bomb was a remotely-detonated device planted in a shop which was between the election offices of an independent candidate Noor Akbar who is contesting elections from NA-39 and the election office of Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Khursheed Begum, contesting from NA-14.
He added that at least 10 kilograms of explosive material was used in its making and that the election offices of both the candidates were destroyed in the attack.
Bomb Disposal Squad officials who reached the spot were also of the view that the bomb was planted.
Some sources suggested that the attack was a suicide bombing.
The wounded persons were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Security forces have cordoned off the area.
Talking to Dawn.com Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the militant organisation was behind Sunday's twin attacks and the attacks on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) election offices in Karachi a day earlier.
An election office of an independent candidate contesting elections from NA-46, Nasir Khan, was targeted on Charsadda road in Peshawar's Maqsoodabad area killing at least three persons and injuring 15 others.
Nasir Khan talking to Dawn.com said that those behind the incident were trying to sabotage the upcoming elections and derail the process. He added that a political gathering was scheduled at the party office, which was targeted in the attack, and that the event had now been cancelled.
Nasir Khan had erected billboards and displayed banners with messages against militants in the constituency he is contesting elections from, which could be a reason why he was targeted.
According to reports the bomb was planted on a motorcycle.
The victims were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Justice (r) Tariq Pervez and provincial Information Minister Mussarat Qadeem condemned the twin bombings in Peshawar and Kohat, and offered condolence. They assured the victims and their heirs of compensation.
Earlier, a bomb exploded near the election office of NA-39's independent candidate Syed Noor Akbar Alam on Hangu road in Kacha Pakka village of Kohat region killing at least five people and injuring 15 others.
The blast was heard across Kohat city and caused damage to nearby shops, buildings and parked cars.
District Police Office Dilawar Bangash told Dawn.com that the bomb was a remotely-detonated device planted in a shop which was between the election offices of an independent candidate Noor Akbar who is contesting elections from NA-39 and the election office of Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Khursheed Begum, contesting from NA-14.
He added that at least 10 kilograms of explosive material was used in its making and that the election offices of both the candidates were destroyed in the attack.
Bomb Disposal Squad officials who reached the spot were also of the view that the bomb was planted.
Some sources suggested that the attack was a suicide bombing.
The wounded persons were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Security forces have cordoned off the area.
