40 killed in blast at DSP’s funeral

SWAT—At least 40 persons were killed in a blast that ripped through in a funeral procession of DSP Javed Iqbal in in Swat area of Mingora on Friday evening. DSP city police confirmed the deaths of 40 people.
Earlier today, DSP Javed Iqbal was killed along with three policemen in a remote-controlled bomb attack in district Lakki Marwat of Frontier on Friday. After the blast, the gunfire shots were heard in the area. The sources said the most wounded people are in critical condition.
SHO Mingora Habib Zaman and Jamaat Islami leader are also among the deceased, according to interior ministry. DIG Bannu, Hamza Mehsood told Geo News that DSP Javed was on his way to office when a blast occurred near his vehicle in committee area near police headquarters killing DSP Javed, his driver and a gunman on the spot. Two other seriously injured policemen shifted to hospital.
The interior ministry confirmed that the blast was suicide attack in nature. Police sources said the blast occurred when police contingent were presenting the last salute of honour to the martyred. The number of the deceased is feared to increase.
A senior police official says 30 people were killed and 62 wounded in a suicide bombing at a funeral in northwestern Pakistan. Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the bombing in the valley’s main town, Mingora, hit the funeral procession of a police officer killed in a roadside bombing earlier in the day. Pakistan’s army deployed to Swat earlier this year to quell an uprising led by a pro-Taliban cleric, and claims it has dispersed his thousands of militant followers but attacks persist. Last Friday, a roadside bomb hit a wedding party, killing 12 people.
Taliban militants have stepped up attacks and taken control of tracts of northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan in the past couple of years. Before militants took root last summer, Swat was once a draw for tourists because of its fine mountain scenery. At least five people were killed and several others injured when a blast occurred in the funeral procession of DSP Javed Iqbal in Lakki Marwat.
After the blast, the gunfire shots were heard. The sources said the most wounded people are in critical condition. The number of the deceased is likely to rise up. Earlier today, DSP Javed Iqbal was killed along with three policemen in a remote-controlled bomb attack in district Lakki Marwat of Frontier on Friday.
DIG Bannu, Hamza Mehsood told Geo News that DSP Javed was on his way to office when a blast occurred near his vehicle in committee area near police headquarters killing DSP Javed, his driver and a gunman on the spot. Two other seriously injured policemen shifted to hospital.
The deadly explosion occurred when a smartly turned out’s police contingent was presenting Guard of Honour to the coffin late police officer who were killed along with three others policemen in bomb explosion in Lakki Mawart on Friday morning. There are reports that SHO Mingora Habib Zaman and a JI leader were among the dead. However, the Interior Ministry has so far confirmed the death of five persons and wounded 40.
High-ranking officers of police department and policemen were attending the funeral at Government High School Mingora and later were watching the last ritual of the late DSP when the bomber exploded himself. Flesh of the bodies were littered in the site as the injured are crying due to wounds.—Agencies