Charsadda attack a plot of target killing: Asfandyar

Karachi, Feb 10 : Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the Chasadda attack was not the act of suicide bombing, but a plot of target killing.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said that the Chasadda attack was not a suicide bombing, but a well thought out plot, which aimed at throwing the country into a state of instability by eliminating the ANP leadership, the Geo News reported.

He said that he himself was invited to attend the meeting, however for some reasons, he could not go.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said that the government has failed to provide security to the people.

He demanded that an enquiry commission headed by a High Court Judge be constituted and by arresting the persons involved be punished.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said that these incidents aim at thwarting general elections and landing the country into a state of instability.

However, the ANP would keep continuing its election campaign, he said.

Police in Pakistan today said that they had found the head of the lone bomber who blew himself up in an Awami National Party (ANP) election rally in Charsadda town in which 27 people were killed and 51 others were injured.

According to Charsadda deputy mayor Farman Ali, the bomber seems to be standing in a corner and all of a sudden pushed his way to the middle and blew himself up, the Dawn reported.

A powerful bomb ripped through a public meeting of the Awami National Party here on Saturday.

The bomb had been planted near the stage and the explosion occurred as soon as recitation from the Holy Quran began.

The ANP's president, Asfandyar Wali Khan, said the explosion was a conspiracy to delay the polls and announced a three-day mourning period.

This was the third major explosion in Charsadda district over the past ten months. A suicide bomber struck a public meeting addressed by former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on April 28, leaving 32 dead. Sherpao remained unhurt.

Another explosion rocked a mosque during Eidul Azha prayers on Dec 21. It claimed 57 lives. Sherpao was once again among the survivors.

The ANP chief warned that killing of Pukhtuns would endanger the country's integrity.

ANI