Shaheed Shuja Khanzada murder: FIR registered against unidentified attackers

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Rangoo police station on Monday filed a First-Information Report (FIR) on behalf of the state against unidentified attackers of slain Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada Shaheed on Monday morning.

The application was filed in Rangoo police station by SHO Ghulam Shabbir under the Explosives Act 1884, Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code ─ which addresses “punishment for wilful murder”, Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 16 of the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance.

The FIR was lodged against all those involved in the suicide attack targeting Khanzada.

A report from an initial investigation given to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif revealed that the home minister was killed in retaliation of the killing of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi chief Malik Ishaq and others but not mention Punjab Government ally Outlawed AhleSunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) , the religio-political wing of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

US offers assistance in investigation

The United States has offered assistance to Pakistani authorities in investigating the terrorist attack in Attock in which Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada was killed along with 18 others on Sunday.

“US mission in Pakistan is prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act,” a US embassy statement issued from Islamabad said.

The spokesman of the mission condemned the terrorist attack on Khanzada’s political office and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

“Such blatant disregard for human life is unacceptable and contrary to the aspirations of the Pakistani people for a secure, stable, and prosperous nation,” the spokesman said.

“The United States remains committed to the people of Pakistan and to the Pakistani government’s efforts to fight terrorism and fully support Pakistan’s determination to bring to justice those behind the attack.”

UN chief condemns attack

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Sunday’s bomb attack that killed Punjab’s Home Minister Shuja Khanzada and called for bringing to justice those responsible for the crime.

A statement issued by Ban’s spokesman expressed sympathies to the people and government of Pakistan saying, “The secretary general reiterates that nothing justifies terrorism.”

“He hopes the perpetrators will be brought to justice swiftly,” the statement said.

“The secretary general extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.”

The attack on Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada took place on Sunday when he was at his political office in Attock district’s Shadi Khan village. More than 35 people had gathered to offer Fateha for a close relative of the home minister who had died on Saturday in the UK.

Eighteen others were killed in the attack, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hazro Police Shaukat Ali Shah, who was providing security to Khanzada.

Though it is too early to put together the exact sequence of events, a suicide attacker is thought to have entered the large room where the gathering took place.

The room was similar to a covered veranda and was completely open on at least one side. It is located next to a narrow street and the suicide bomber is thought to have entered it or blown himself up near its narrow entrance on the street. The roof caved in due to the blast, burying those present underneath.

Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Sukhera told reporters at the blast site that there was a possibility that there were two suicide bombers who struck the building.

“One attacker who entered the dera from the street side blew himself up,” he said.

A senior police official said the head of a suicide bomber had been found.

He added that a head of a calf was also found in the debris, due to which the police would also investigate if an animal had been used in the attack; the intensity of the blast appears to be far more than what can be caused by a suicide jacket.

It is the first time that such an attack has been carried out on a high-profile member of the PML-N, particularly in Punjab.