KARACHI: (Parliament Times) Shah Noorani shrine has been sealed and closed for devotees after a deadly suicide blast killed 52 and injured 100 on Saturday evening.
A Frontier Corp contingent has been deployed at the shrine.
The suicide blast occurred when devotees were engaged in ‘dhamaal’ at the Shah Noorani shrine near Hub in Balochistan’s Lasbella district on Saturday evening.
The shrine is located in a remote mountainous region about 200km away from Karachi. Even the nearest hospitals are at least two hours away from the location of the blast. Mobile services do not work in the area. These limitations severely hampered rescue work, resulting in loss of many lives which could otherwise have been saved, officials said.
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti speaking to journalists on Monday ruled out that banned outfit Daesh had carried out the attack. He said that at the time of the attack 12 Levies personnel were performing duties at the shrine.
He added that currently security of the shrine is being enhanced and walls are being raised.
16 injured discharged from hospital
At least 16 injured from the Shah Noorani Shrine blast were discharged from the hospital on Monday.
There are 26 injured being treated at the Civil Hospital Karachi.
Among the 52 dead, bodies of 34 have been brought to Karachi. Out of them 32 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families. For identification of the two unidentified bodies DNA tests will be conducted.
According to initial investigation the blast at the shrine was carried out by a suicide bomber who seemed like a young Afghan man. Over 7 kilogram of explosives were used in the attack and 9mm bullets were used in the suicide jacket.
Officials said more than one banned outfits were part of the attack.
During a visit to the hospital to meet the injured Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah said security arrangements have been enhanced at shrines following the deadly attack.
