Musharraf, Aziz condemn Peshawar blast (Lead: Peshawar blast)

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have condemned the Peshawar bomb blast, which claimed 25 lives on Tuesday.

Islamabad, May 15 : Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have condemned the Peshawar bomb blast, which claimed 25 lives on Tuesday.

Musharraf directed the provincial government to thoroughly investigate the incident and take strict action against the perpetrators, The News reported.

He further asked the authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured.

Conveying his condolences to the families of the victims, Musharraf appealed to his fellow citizens to unite against terrorism in the country.

Aziz termed the incident as a heinous act of terrorism, and said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the incident.

Twenty-five people were killed and several others injured in a powerful bomb blast in Peshawar this afternoon.

The blast happened at the Marhaba Hotel on the crowded Naz Cinema Road close to the centuries-old Mahabat Mosque. The hotel is famous for its variety of food. Afghan nationals are the most frequent visitors.

The chief minister of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Akram Khan Durrani, has announced a compensation of Rs.0.1 million each for the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each for injured.

According to police sources, four to five kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

The Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishratul Ibad, who has just come out of two days of rioting in Karachi, has also condemned the blast in Peshawar.

The dead bodies and the injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital. An emergency was announced at local hospitals after the blast.

Security forces have been placed on high alert in Karachi and Lahore after the blast in Peshawar.

ANI