Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has said the investigation into the Sunday evening suicide bombing in Islamabad is under way and the eyewitnesses term it a suicide blast. Talking to reporters here on Monday, he said that the bomber was 15 to 17 years of age, having trimmed beard and was wearing "Peshawari type" sleepers.
He said the distorted body parts, found at the blast site, was identified as of Nawaz and Khalid Khan. "We found some body parts from the spot and the DNA tests helped in their identification", he further added. He said that the upper limb of the suicide bomber was also recovered from the site of the Melody blast and further investigation revealed his real identity.
Rehman Malik said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had ordered an immediate inquiry into the blast and constituted a joint investigation team to probe into the incident. "The blast was a conspiracy against Pakistan and to intimidate people of Pakistan", he remarked. He said that under the directives of the Prime Minister the legal heirs of the martyrs, who lost their lives in the blast would get a compensation of Rs 1.3 million each, while the injured would get a compensation of Rs 200, 000 each.
He rejected the notion that the Melody blast was the result of any security lapse, adding that foolproof arrangements were in place for the participants of the Lal Masjid conference. Incidents of suicide bombing reduced after the new government took charge of the affairs, he added. Rehman Malik paid glowing tributes to martyrs, who had sacrificed their lives or were injured on duty for safeguarding their motherland.