- GB CM, top army officials attend funeral for nine deceased persons; bodies dispatched to hometowns
CHILAS: The Diamer Police on Sunday registered the first information report (FIR) and claimed to have arrested six suspects on charge of the attack on the Islamabad-bound bus in Chilas area of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), which the claimed nine lives.
According to officials, the nine slain passengers included two soldiers while 25 other received injuries Saturday evening after unknown assailants targeted the bus from nearby hills. The bus then collided with a goods truck head-on when its driver accelerated to flee the attack.
The GB interior minister also confirmed the fact that the bus driver attempted to flee the attack, which led to its head-on collision with a goods truck.
So far, no organisation has accepted responsibility for the incident.
Diamer Deputy Commissioner Capt (r) Arif Ahmad also confirmed the development, saying that everything possible would be done to bring the culprits ton the book.
On the other hand, the public relations officer (PRO) Raja Ashfaq Tahir to the Diamer Commissioner said a case had been registered against unknown miscreants by Diamer SHO Azmat Shah.
“Six suspects have been taken into custody at two police stations so far,” the PRO said.
The official said all entry and exit points of GB had been closed and security in the region was on high alert. The police have launched search operations across Diamer and traffic on the Karakoram Highway remained suspended on Sunday, Tahir added.
Separately, funeral for the deceased persons was offered and GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, Chilas Assistant commissioner Sadaqat Ali and top army officials attended it. The bodies were later dispatched to their hometowns by Rescue 1122.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers traveling to Gilgit-Baltistan were stranded in Bisham, Kohistan and other areas due to the closure of Karakoram Highway.
Protests were also held in Chilas and Hunza against the incident. The demonstrators demanded immediate action and arrest of the culprits.
No one would be allowed to sabotage GB peace: PM
Meanwhile in a statement, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar affirmed that anti-state elements would not be allowed to sabotage peace in GB.
According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the premier condemned the incident. He said the war against terrorism would continue till the complete elimination of terrorism in the country.
He expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of innocent citizens in the incident and prayed for the patience of the bereaved families.
