Blast at Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada's office, 7 dead

[pak-marine]

Blast at Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada's political office, 7 dead
DAWN.COM — UPDATED 5 minutes ago

File photo of Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada


ATTOCK: An intense explosion has taken place at Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada's political office leaving seven people dead, police have confirmed. The impact of the blast caused a roof collapse of the building and shattered windows in nearby houses.

An estimated 20 to 25 people have been buried under rubble as the entire structure has been destroyed. A number of the dead have been pulled out from the building.

The Punjab home minister's staff have confirmed that Khanzada was in the office at the time of the blast, and has been injured. The Punjab home minister's son Sohrab Khanzada also told Geo News that Khanzada was buried under the rubble.

The nature of the blast is not yet known, though some witnesses have claimed that a suicide bomber carried out the attack. This has not been independently confirmed by Dawn.

Shuja Khanzada was given charge of the home department in October 2014 and has been actively involved in major operations against terror outfits. The provincial department he heads is responsible for the maintenance of law and order, and protection of life and property of citizens. He has previously held positions as Provincial Minister Punjab and Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab.

Rescue operations are underway at the scene of the attack. A helicopter has been called in to speed up rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the terrorist attack. The Interior Minister of Punjab has also expressed condolences for the people killed in the blast.

Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan similarly condemned the incident and directed federal and provincial institutions to carry out immediate rescue activities.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information comes in.

 

[pak-marine]

Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada injured in blast at political office in Attock
By Abdul Manan
Published: August 16, 2015
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PHOTO: EXPRESS

Punjab Home Minister Col (r) Shuja Khanzada was injured in a blast at his political office in Shadi Khan near Attock on Sunday.

The roof of the provincial home minister’s office collapsed as a result of the explosion. Khanzada is reportedly trapped under the rubble along with 24 other people as the entire structure of his office building collapsed.

“As per initial reports Shuja Khanzada is critically injured and still trapped under debris,” Punjab Home Department Secretary Azam Suleman told The Express Tribune.

According to initial reports, a suicide bomber entered Khanzada’s political office and blew himself up. The provincial home minister was addressing a dispute between two parties at the time.

Read: Muzaffargarh gunfight: LeJ founder Malik Ishaq killed in ‘police encounter’

Police and rescue teams have reached the site and rescue efforts are underway. An emergency has been declared in hospitals in the twin cities.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has sent a helicopter for rescue efforts. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the blast and DPO Attock has reached the site.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the blast at Khanzada’s residence and called for immediate rescue measures and medical aid for the injured.

Khanzada was given charge of the provincial home department in October 2014. He previously held positions as Punjab provincial minister and adviser to Punjab chief minister.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.


Read more: Punjab

 

[Bratva]

Though they managed to nab the gang that were plotting attack on sheikh rasheed, nisar,khawaja asif and privatization minister, this gang might have slipped from agencies radar.


As they say for every one attack that occurred, agencies has prevented multiple attacks

 

[Leader]

unjab Home minister Shuja Khanzada was in the office, he is badly injured, shifted to CMH.

prayers are also required.

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Blast hits office of Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada in Attock

At least five people were killed Sunday when a powerful explosion rocked the political office of Punjab Home Minister Col (r) Shuja Khanzada in Attock, with the retired colonel injured in the suspected suicide attack and trapped under the rubble.

According to reports, a jirga was underway at Khanzada’s political office in his native Shadi Khan village when a suicide attacker detonated his explosives. The blast caused the roof of the building to collapse under which Khanzada and other people were said to be trapped.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Deeba Shahnaz Akhtar confirmed that five bodies have been recovered from the debris. The identities of the dead could not yet be ascertained.

According to eyewitnesses and rescue sources, between 20 and 25 people were still trapped under the rubble. Police personnel, the bomb disposal squad and some rescue workers had reached the spot and started a rescue operation.

Multiple reports suggested that the blast was a suicide attack, but the reports could not yet be confirmed from police or government officials.

Speaking to Geo News from the location, the home minister's son Sohrab Khanzada confirmed that his father was trapped under the rubble. Sohrab said he was in the kitchen when the blast rocked the building with such intensity that it caused the entire building to collapse.

He said that rescue workers were currently trying to retrieve the injured and dead from underneath the debris.

Rescue workers were facing difficulties in the rescue operation due to a lack of required heavy machinery to remove the rubble.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack, while Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has also expressed condolences for the people killed in the blast.

Nisar has ordered a the interior minister to dispatch a helicopter to the spot to aid in the rescue mission, while he has also instructed army and air force personnel to aid in the operation.

Hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been put on high alert due to the high number of expected casualties.

Blast hits office of Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada in Attock - thenews.com.pk

Army moved their Search and rescue teams :ISPR

 

[!eon]

Sad news,
but more sympathies are required by their poor subjects in Kasur. Where brave Punjab Police under this home minister, is busy in oppressing the victims.

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

 

[ito]

RIP....

 

[pak-marine]

Sources in the interior ministry claim that banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has taken responsibility of the suicide attack on Khanzada's farmhouse. They alleged Khanzada was under threat following the killing of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq in July.

The Punjab home minister's staff have confirmed that Khanzada was in the office at the time of the blast, and has been injured. The Punjab home minister's son Sohrab Khanzada also told Geo News that Khanzada was buried under the rubble.

The nature of the blast is not yet known, though some witnesses have claimed that a suicide bomber carried out the attack. This has not been independently confirmed by Dawn.

Shuja Khanzada was given charge of the home department in October 2014 and has been actively involved in major operations against terror outfits. The provincial department he heads is responsible for the maintenance of law and order, and protection of life and property of citizens. He has previously held positions as Provincial Minister Punjab and Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab.

Rescue operations are underway at the scene of the attack. A helicopter has been called in to speed up rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the terrorist attack. The Interior Minister of Punjab has also expressed condolences for the people killed in the blast.

Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan similarly condemned the incident and directed federal and provincial institutions to carry out immediate rescue activities.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information comes in.

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

https://twitter.com/x/status/632840109042216960

 

[Saifullah Sani]

 

[F.O.X]

The ghost of late Hameed Gul will continue to haunt.

When you don't have any clue of the matters in discussion it is better to keep you trap shut, Now get lost before you get Pink.

 

[Lavrentiy]

Look at his bakwaas...

Tumhein F.O.X ki bakwaas nazar nahein aati?

@Irfan Baloch @Horus Really now guys ??

I just responded to your kind words. Stop whining in front of the mods.

You told me to get lost first. I reciprocated.

 

[Jf Thunder]

unfortunately, channels are reporting that Punjab home mister has died
Inna Lillah Hi Wa Inna Elehi Raajioon
R.I.P

 

[Devil Soul]

وزیر داخلہ پنجاب کرنل (ر) شجاع خانزادہ شہید ہوگئے