07/0800 HOURS OF 8-6-1998 (MONDAY)
 

EXPLOSION : The death toll in the bomb explosion which took place in a coach of the Peshawar bound Khyber Mail near Khairpur Sundah has risen to twenty four.

A press note issued by the District Magistrate Khairpur says that the District Administration carried out the rescue operation and the identified bodies of the dead persons were despatched to their native places.Those who sustained minor injuries were discharged after first aid and sent to their destinations.

Twenty passengers of the ill-fated train who died in the blast were identified. They were:-

Faiz Muhammad son of Suleman Malak and Muhammad Anwar son of Muhammad Ibrahim of Sadiqabad.

BENAZIR : The PPP Chairperson and the opposition leader Ms. Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern over the acts of terrorism in the country which have claimed several lives.

In a statement from Karachi, she expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the bomb explosion in Khyber Mail yesterday.

21/2200 HOURS OF 7-6-1998 (SUNDAY)
 

ACCIDENT : Twenty-three people were killed and thirty-two others injured when a bomb exploded in a Coach of the Peshawar bound Khyber Mail between Tando Masti Khan and Khairpur Sunday morning.

The injured persons have been admitted to Civil Hospital Hiairpur.

The Sindh Governor Retired Lt. General Moinuddin Haider rushed from Karachi to the side of the incident to see the victims of the blast.

Talking to newsmen in Sukkur, the Governor said inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the incident.

CONDEMNATION : President Muhammad Rafique Tarar and the Prime Minister Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have condemned the bomb blast in the Khyber Mail.

The Prime Minister blamed anti-Pakistan forces for this act of terrorism. He said these forces would not succeed in their evil designs, rather they would find the Pakistani nation more united and resilient.

The Prime Minister directed Railway authorities to provide all possible medical care to the victims.

MUSHAHID : Pakistan has said Indian Intelligence Agency " RAW " is involved in the bomb explosion in the Khyber Mail train.

Talking to newsmen in Islamabad Sunday, the Information Minister Mr. Mushahid Hussain Syed said that Pakistan has evidence of the involvement of RAW in the current series of terrorist acts in the country which also targeted a cinema house in Lahore. He said it has been proved that the main suspect act of the Lahore cinema blast is an Indian national.

The Information Minister brought into focus the difference of approaches by India and Pakistan after their nuclear tests. While India adopted a threatening posture towards Pakistan after the nuclear tests. Pakistan offered dialogue to resolve disputes.

SPOKESMAN : A Foreign Office spokesman in a statement in Islamabad said such acts of terrorism will vitiate the atmosphere for a constructive engagement for solution to the regional problems. He called upon the world community to denounce such acts which increase tension.