Toll of Friday's suicide blast in Pakistan reaches 36

Islamabad, Sep 18: Death toll of the suicide blast which hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of Mohmand Agency on Friday afternoon has risen to 36, an official report said on Saturday evening.

According to local administrator's report. After 13 injured succumbed in different hospitals, the death toll rose from 23 to 36 during the last 24 hours.

The report said that at least 16 others were also injured in this blast and a number of them are still in the critical condition.

Deputy administrator of the region, Naveed Akbar, said the incident arised as long as a suicide bomber entered the mosque and exploded his vest, targeting at the people who were offering Friday prayer in Paye Khan village in Anbar area of Mohmand Agency, Pakistan's northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Around 200 people were offering prayer in the mosque when the blast took place in this remote village which has no proper telecommunication and road infrastructure.

According to the report, 35 of the victims are under the 30 years old, while 16 of them are from 9 to 17.

Bomb disposal squad said that around 5-7 kilograms of ball bearings was used in the blast.

Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a banned fraction of outlawed Pakistani Taliban, claimed that they are fully responsible for this attack, which targeting at the pro-government people in the mosque.

Security forces has imposed curfew in Mohmand Agency's Anbar area and launched a searching operation, Akbar said.

The local administration also announced a compensation of 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($2,857) for each dead of the families,and Rs 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($952) for each injured.

According to a hospital official,the death toll could be stopped, if the injured were taken to the hospitals in time, but unfortunately the injured could not get first aid due to unavailability of rescue teams and transportation.

Earlier on September 2, at least 14 people including six lawyers and two policemen were killed and 52 others injured in a suicide attack at district courts in Pakistan's northwest district of Mardan.

IANS