At least nine commuters were killed and 10 others including three women injured in a powerful explosion on a passenger van here in Mathani, a suburban locality of the provincial metropolis on Saturday. According to police, five-kilogram explosive material planted in the vehicle was exploded through a remote-control device. The commuter van was on way from Speen Chowk to Sharikaira suburban locality of Peshawar.
The explosion resulted in complete destruction of the passenger van. The bodies and injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where emergency was already proclaimed. According to a spokesman of the hospital, they received eight bodies while one was succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
The victims have been identified as Hikamat Khan son of Abdullah, Misal Khan son of Fazalullah, Ishfaq son of Mushtaq, Shehbaz son of Momin, Mohammand Amin son of Ahmad Sher while the identity of four other could not be ascertained. The 10 injured including three women have been identified as Fazal Haq son of Wali Khan, Tariq, Saifullah son of Said Rahim, Asad Khan son of Tawas Khan, Anwar Khan son of Khan Mir, Saadullah son of Mohammad Hashim, Asal Khan son of Juma Khan, Fahmida wife of Mushtaq, Rukhsar daughter of Lala Shah and Fatima.