Terrorist Attack Targets Shia Mosque in NW Pakistan

By Staff, Agencies

At least one man was injured in a terrorist blast on a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s north western Lower Kurram area near Afghan border on Tuesday, local media reported.

Reports quoting police said the injured man, who reportedly worked as a caretaker at the mosque has been shifted to a local hospital. The building of the mosque collapsed from the power of the explosion.

Law enforcement officials arrived at the site of the explosion and cordoned off the area, that investigation in the incident was underway.

The nature of the blast has yet to be confirmed, though police suspect explosive material had been planted at the mosque.

Member of Pakistani Parliament Sajid Toori, who was elected from the district, Anjuman-i-Hussainia Parachinar Secretary Haji Sardar Hussain and Tehreek-i-Hussaini leader Yousuf Hussain condemned the incident, saying that "terrorists were trying to sabotage the peace established by the sacrifices of security forces".

They demanded the government to rebuild the mosque and conduct a high-level investigation.

Last month, Pakistani security forces conducted different Intelligence Based Operations [IBO] in northwestern parts of the country and killed 16 terrorists.

While in March, Seven terrorists and four soldiers were killed during an IBO on a terrorist hideout in north western Pakistan.