Death toll from Pakistan church attack touches 81

PESHAWAR :  The death toll from the deadly twin suicide bombings on a historic church here in northwestern Pakistan rose to 81 today.

            The attack on All Saints Church at Kohati Gate area of Peshawar was the deadliest ever on the country’s Christian minority. Bombers set off their suicide vests as people were emerging from Sunday mass.

            All the 81 people killed in the bombings have been laid to rest, while the 145 injured receiving are treatment in the hospitals, authorities said.

            Even as a probe committee was formed to look into the attack, the worst against the minority Christians here in the country, Inspector General Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ahsan Ghani has been shunted out. Nasir Durrani has replaced Ghani.

            Peshawar city SP, Ismail Kharak told Geo News that besides constitution of a four-member probe committee, a new security plan for the protection of minorities has been prepared.

            An initial report of the church attack said the suicide bombers appeared 20/25 years old. (AGENCIES)