78 killed in twin suicide blasts in Pakistan
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E-mail Xinhua, September 23, 2013
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Pakistani people and policemen check a body of a policeman outside the Church after two suicide bomb attacks in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 22, 2013. (Xinhua/Ahmad Sidique) |
Christians in the country's southern port city of Karachi blocked several roads and pelted stones at police and the passing traffic, causing damage to several vehicles.
Protesters in eastern Lahore city, Islamabad and southwest city of Quetta also held peaceful demonstrations to protest against the brutal killing.
Bishop Sadiq Daniel, representative of Christian community in Pakistan, condemned the attack and said that no religion allows anyone to attack religious places.
Security at all churches across the county was beefed up following the blast, reported local media.
The provincial government announced 500,000 rupees(about 4717 U.S. dollars) in compensation to the families of the deceased and 200,000 rupees(about 1887 U.S. dollars)to the families of the injured people.
Both Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have condemned the attack.
Local TV Waqt reported that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Jandola group, a fraction of Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that they would continue attacking non-Muslims until the permanent stoppage of U.S. drone strikes in Northwest Pakistan.
The attack took place at a time when the country's army and political parties were in the process of conducting peace talks with Taliban militants.
The attack was followed by a U.S. drone strike that left seven people killed and three others injured. The drone attack occurred when Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to raise the issue during the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting from Sept. 23 to 29.
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