NA member's house bombed

Nawani belongs to Shia community. He has spoken out in parliament several times recently against growing sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia communities.

“It could be a sectarian-related attack as he belongs to the Shia community,” Khan Baig, a senior police officer in the region said.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday strongly condemned the suicide bomb blast at the residence of Member National Assembly Rasheed Akbar Khan Nawani in Bhakkar, injuring the MNA and killing many others.

President Zardari in a message expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives and condoled with the families of victims. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in peace and grant recovery to the injured ones.

He said such heinous incidents could not deter the government’s resolve to fight against terrorism. Zardari said present government is committed to wipe out the scourge of terrorism, and targeting the people of Pakistan indiscriminately.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also denounced the suicide blast and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and condoled with victims’ families.

 Prime Minister Gilani has announced Rs 300,000 each as compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the Bhakkar suicide blast.

He also announced Rs 100,000 each for those injured in the incident. He has also ordered the Punjab government to initiate an immediate inquiry into the tragic incident.