QUETTA – Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri on Monday announced Rs1 million compensation for each dead and Rs0.5 million each for injured people of Quetta church attack.
Talking to media on Sunday, Sanaullah Zehri lauded security officers for timely action against the terrorists. He said that if militants had managed to enter the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church then the causalities would have escalated as 400 people were present in the worship place.
He said that police killed one terrorist at the gate while the other one exploded himself. “Eradicating terrorism is the responsibility of police department,” he added.
“We are not afraid of terrorists and their networks,” he continued, adding Balochistan will soon be a peaceful province.
Zehri also announced to give Rs1.5 million to the police officers who bravely fought against the terrorists while he also assured to recommend the name of the guard, who diverted attackers’ attention ahead of the mishap, for president award.
At least nine people, including two women, were killed and 57 sustained injuries when suicide bombers attacked Bethel Memorial Methodist Church located on Quetta’s Zarghoon Road on Sunday.
An explosion took place initially and was followed by a gunfight. Police, Frontier Corps personnel, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were immediately dispatched to the scene. The area was cordoned off and a search and rescue operation was carried out.
The Home Minister said that at least four militants targeted the church. He told that police intercepted and shot one bomber outside but the second attacker managed to reach the church’s main door where he blew himself up. Two others fled the scene as the personnel tightened noose on them. However; none of them succeeded in entering the church building.
The minister said about 250 people usually attend the church on Sundays, but attendance had swelled because it was close to Christmas.
In 2016, Lahore suffered one of Pakistan’s deadliest attacks on Easter – a suicide bomb in a park that killed more than 70 people including many children.–Agencies
