Twin suicide blasts leave 31 dead
Staff Report

RAWALPINDI—The death toll in the deadly twin blasts in Rawalpindi has increased upto 31, however, District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas said that a total of 25 people died and 45 others suffered injuries. Meanwhile, City District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas and District Coordinator Officer (DCO) Irfan Elahi visited District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi and inquired about the health of injured people.
District Naib Nazim Muhammad Afzal Khokhar was present on the occasion. Raja Javed Ikhlas directed hospital administration to provide better health facilities to bomb blast victims. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi Dr. Irfan and Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Muhammad Rafique briefed the Nazim about the medical facilities being given to injure.
Talking to media men, the Nazim has confirmed the death of 25 people in twin blasts in two different areas of Rawalpindi while 45 received injuries. He said that the purpose of such incident is to drive the country into instability; however, the elements involved in it will not be succeeded in their nefarious design,
Following the inauguration of Rescue 112 in Rawalpindi, he said, it was the first incident of such type. Personnel of Rescue 112 fully participated in the rescue work, he noted. He said he cannot say anything either it was suicide attack or remote control blasts adding that the investigation agencies are investing in this respect.
Local authorities have already been alerted of possible suicide attacks in the area, he pointed out. He appealed citizens to kept vigilant eyes on suspicious vehicles and people and must inform their concerned Police Station. Following the incident, District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas said, security has been increased in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, according to a report, the brother of Station House Officers (SHOs) of Civil Line and Westridge Police Stations Syed Zafar Hussain Shah was among the dead. At least seventeen bodies have been identified among 24 killed-persons in a suicide attack at Qasim Market in the wee hour of Tuesday.
Thirteen dead bodies were taken to CMH and eleven of them have been identified. The deceased are Muhammad Saeed, Khurshid Ahmed, Muhammad Saleem, Arshad, Abdur Rehman, Manzoor Elahi, Muhammad Imtiaz, Muhammad Ijaz, Muhammad Asghar, Syed Muhammad Zafar Abbas Shah, Syed Gulzar Hussain, Muhammad Abbas, Ghulam Hussain, Javed Iqbal, Ashraf, Muhammad Ashfaq, Aftab, Raja Khalid and Munir Akhtar.
Intelligence Agencies on Tuesday in their investigations have said that despite reports of possible suicide attacks in the sensitive areas of the twin cities the security was not placed on high alert. The intelligence reports said that five suspects were arrested before occurrence of bomb blasts in the area of Rawalpindi Cantt R.A Bazaar and Qasim Market on Tuesday morning and during interrogations from them it was revealed that a suicide attack could take place in sensitive areas. But despite this the security was not placed on high alert
Sources reveal that Security was not high alert in Cantt areas of Rawalpindi that is RA Bazaar and Qasim Market thus terrorists targeted the place despite the facts that reports were provided by the Sensitive Organisations to intensify security in the said areas.
Further, it has been told that in initial investigations gathered by the statements of the injured informs that the bomb blast that occurred in RA Bazaar was a suicide attack as the motorcyclist (Suicider Bomber) blew himself when he entered the market and his motorcycle collided with the vehicles that were parked on the roadside resulting in loss of innocent lives. While on the other hand in Qasim Market, bomb was planted in the bus. The bomb was said to be extremely powerful. It was meant to target innocent people in the market. Intelligence Agencies reports confirms that Security must be intensified in public places of the country as Terrorists and extremists can again target innocent people.