Local terrorist group claims responsibility for S. Pakistan's suicide blast

Pakistan's banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) on Saturday claimed responsibility for the suicide blast in southern Jacobabad district Friday night that left 24 people killed and over 40 others wounded.

Suhail Anwar Siyal, home minister of southern Sindh province where Jacobabad is located, said that the LeJ was behind the sectarian attack and he has formed two separate committees to investigate the attack.

Meanwhile Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah has announced a compensation of 2 million rupees (about 20,000 U.S. dollars) each for the families of the killed.

"The handicapped victims will be granted 1 million rupees along with a government job whereas the slightly injured people will get a compensation money of 0.2 million rupees," Shah said.

The blast took place when a suicide bomber blew up himself near a procession of Shia Muslims, Malik Zafar Iqbal Awan, a senior police superintendent, said.

Policemen have recovered lower part of the bomber's body from the blast site and his age and other details have been determined, he added.

The Shia Muslims were holding the procession to commemorate the sacrifice of Islamic Prophet's grandson who himself and his family lost their lives while fighting against the army of an oppressor some 1,400 years ago.

Some local media reports said that the bomber blew himself up in the gathering of women and a large number of dead and injured people include women and kids.

Following the blast, a group of angry protestors stormed the deputy police superintendent's office accusing the law enforcement agencies for proving inadequate security to the procession.

Both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain of the country condemned the blast and directed hospital authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people. Enditem