Karzai visits bomb-hit Faryab, consoles families

MAIMANA (PAN): Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday visited the northern province of Faryab that was jolted by a bloody suicide attack on Friday and expressed condolences to bereaving families. 

Karzai denounced the attack outside a mosque in Maimana, provincial capital of Faryab, in the morning of Eid-ul-Adha celebration, where 41 people were killed and at least 56 others injured after a man wearing an explosive-laden vest detonated himself.

“The act was carried out by the enemies of Islam and Afghanistan,” Karzai told a gathering at the governor’s office, adding that he had ordered the interior and defence ministries to tighten security at mosques during Eid celebrations, yet the tragedy happened.

“The Faryab governor’s office will help all the victims’ families and would fulfill their needs,” assured Karzai.

The government would also provide land for the victims’ families and free education for their children, he added.

President’s advisor Naimatullah Shehrani also condemned the blast and said suicide attacks were prohibited in Islam.

The head of Ulema and was used by the country to carry out any kind of acts.

Faryab Governor Mohammadullah Batash said the Taliban carried out the attack in revenge for their casualties in Pakhtun Kot district of the province.

Such incidents occurred because of corruption in the government and lack of law enforcement in the country, said Rahmatullah Torkistani, the head of provincial council.

He asked Karzai to appoint experienced, professional, patriotic and honest people as the commanders of security agencies to prevent such incidents in the future.

He also urged Karzai to work for the reconstruction and development of the province and the president promised to fulfill the people’s demands.

Myn/vp