Shuja Khanzada, who helped lead counter-terrorism operations as home minister in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, was killed barely two weeks after police shot and killed one of the country’s most feared militant leaders.
Advertisement
The injured people have been shifted to a nearby hospital. The condition of three was stated to be critical.
The suicide bomber entered the building disguised as a visitor and blew himself up. “Eight persons have been killed and several others injured after the bomber hit the minister’s house,” Commissioner Rawalpindi region Zahid Saeed said.
However, the security squad was not accompanying the provincial home minister when the suicide bomber targeted him at his residence in his hometown.
The initial investigation report has disclosed that there may be two men who executed the bombings in the deadly attack on Col (Retd) Shuja Khanzada in Attock here on Sunday morning using at least 15 kg of explosives.
Saeed said DSP Shaukat Shah also died in the blast.
Rescue operations were underway at the scene of the attack, media reports said.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the hardline Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) movement claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter, saying it was revenge for the killing of a sectarian militant commander and others. Khanzada’s son Sohrab said that his father was in the office when the blast took place.
The Minister for Parliamentarian Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, told reporters from the public broadcaster Pakistan Television that Khanzada had recently received death threats from insurgent groups.
Khanzada was considered a vocal member of the Punjab Cabinet against militants.
Advertisement
“We support Pakistan’s determination to bring to justice those behind the attack and are prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act”, the embassy said in a statement. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif condemned the attack and said Khanzada has sacrificed his life for a greater objective.
