Qari Zia Group suspected in Wali Bagh suicide attack

The eyewitnesses and injured persons informed that in the afternoon of second day of Eid, Asfandyar Wali Khan was present in the main Hujra at Wali Bagh when the suicide bomber entered. In the meantime, the police personnel opened fire against him but it didn’t work. The eyewitnesses believed that the bomber was wearing a bulletproof jacket.

However, on bomber’s arrival near Asfandyar Wali Khan, his personal bodyguard Zamin succeeded in blocking the bomber and the explosive went off with a big bang. The ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan remained unhurt. However, a number of persons were either killed or injured.

During the suicide attack, a large number of visitors were busy in offering Zuhar prays. Therefore, the number of casualties remained thin. Moreover a number of visitors and occupants of the Hujra slipped away to safe places during skirmishes between the bomber and the security forces personnel. The security guards opened bursts of fire against the bomber.

The eyewitnesses also reported that three “walk through gates” had been installed in connection with security measures at Wali Bagh. The suicide bomber without offering body search entered the main Hujra. After he crossed the gate, the security forces opened fire against him.

The injured were identified as Amir Sultan and his son Sajjad from Buner, Naveed, Habib Ullah, Sajjad Ahmad, Akbar Hussain, Naveed Jan, Masud Jan, Khurshid, Fazalur Rehman, Faqir Hussain, Bilal Ahmad, Fazal Amin, Faqir Said, Tehsin Ullah, Inayat Ullah, Bakhtyar and Behram.

Amir Sultan senior ANP stalwart from Buner who sustained injuries in the suicide attack, told The Nation that the bomber was hit on head through the rifle by Yar Zamin (personal body guard of Asfandyar Wali Khan) outside the main Hujra hall. Amir Sultan said that he was sitting on one bed along with Asfandyar Wali Khan and Shams Ul Zaman Khan of Chaghgarzai on one bed during the attack. And he became unconscious as a result of the explosion.