Army Chief reaches Parachinar on the eighth day of protest

Army chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa reached Parachinar on Friday morning (today) to visit victims of twin blasts, the military’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations said.

According to the schedule of the visit, Gen Bajwa after being briefed about the security situation of the vicinity will meet and condole with the tribal elders and the affected families of the Parachinar blast victims.

Gen Bajwa has paid visit on the eighth day of protest held by the thousands of people of Parachinar against the "government apathy" over the two blasts in the crowded marketplace on Friday evening that killed 72 people.

Earlier, the military’s media wing had issued a statement that the army chief would spend the second day of Eid-ul-Fitr Tuesday in Parachinar, but was later postponed due to bad weather.

The ISPR had said Gen Bajwa’s visit had been postponed as his helicopter was unable to reach the location “due to bad weather”. The army chief will “go immediately” when the weather conditions are favourable, it added.

The mourners have continued their protest at Shaheed Park, Parachinar rejecting the monetary compensation offered by the prime minister saying they would not call off their week-long sit-in until the army chief visits the region.

PM Nawaz Sharif announced 1 million rupees compensation for the families of every victim of the blasts, and 500,000 rupees for the wounded, but the protesters dismissed that urging to be considered as humans first.