TTP slays another 24 in Bannu

At least 24 people, including 20 security personnel, were killed and more than 50 injured in a car bombing in Cantonment area of Bannu on Sunday.
Condition of several injured is said to be critical and officials feared that the death toll could rise. Officials said the high-intensity bombing occurred when the security personnel were boarding vehicles in connection with their deployment in North Waziristan.
Bannu District Police Officer Iqbal Khan told Pakistan Today private vehicles were hired in this regard and the explosion was occurred in one of those vehicles.
The DPO and Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Peshawar office confirmed 20 deaths in the explosion. The ISPR added that another 30 security officials were injured.
However, reports from Bannu reveal that four civilians were also among those killed. Doctors believe condition of several injured was in danger.
The nature of explosion has not been determined so far, but apparently it seems a suicide attack. The DPO added, “Investigation is in progress to find out a clue of owner and driver of the vehicle, loaded with explosive material. And after getting the clue, one could be in a better position to say some thing about nature of the explosion.”
Soon after the explosion, the area was cordoned off and the security forces conducted a rescue operation. All roads, connecting Cantonments with rest of Bannu city and adjacent North Waziristan, were blocked for traffic.
From the last several years, curfew is imposed on Saturday and Sunday for ensuring safe movement and shifting of security forces’ contingents from one to another place.
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, through spokesman Shahidullah Shahid, claimed responsibility for the attack. He said the attack was meant to avenge the killing of Waliur Rahman who was killed in a US drone attack, couple of months back. The spokesman said they were planning more attacks in the future.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has decided to cancel his visit to Davos, Switzerland in the wake of the Bannu attack.
“Our nation is united against extremism and terrorism and the sacrifices rendered by our citizens and personnel of law enforcing agencies will not go in vain,” said the PM.
Earlier, Nawaz strongly condemned the terrorist attack that occurred in Bannu.

CONDEMNATIONS:
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers condemned attack on security forces convoy in Bannu.
In his message, the president said that such cowardly attacks could never weaken the resolve of our law enforcing authorities and the nation, to continue pursuing their struggle against the scourge of militancy and terrorism.
Expressing his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families of the martyred, the President prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.
He also called upon the authorities concerned to ensure that best medical assistance is provided to the injured.
Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, KP CM Pervez Khattak, former president Asif Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the attack.