US offers assistance in Pakistani minister's killing

The United States on Monday offered assistance to Pakistan authorities investigating the killing of Shuja Khanzada, home minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, in a suicide bomb attack while a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Sunday's deadly blast.

"US mission in Pakistan is prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act," Dawn quoted a US embassy statement issued here.

The spokesman of the mission condemned the terrorist attack on Khanzada's political office and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

"Such blatant disregard for human life is unacceptable and contrary to the aspirations of the Pakistani people for a secure, stable, and prosperous nation," the spokesman said.

"The United States remains committed to the people of Pakistan and to the Pakistani government's efforts to fight terrorism and fully support Pakistan's determination to bring to justice those behind the attack."

The FIR in the blast incident was lodged by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Rangoo police station, Ghulam Shabbir, on behalf of the state against all those involved in the suicide attack targeting Khanzada, Dawn online reported.

The report of an initial investigation given to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif,meanwhile, revealed that the home minister was killed in retaliation for the deaths of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief Malik Ishaq and others.

The attack on Punjab home minister Khanzada took place on Sunday when he was at his political office in Attock district's Shadi Khan village.

Eighteen others were killed in the attack, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hazro Police Shaukat Ali Shah, who was providing security to Khanzada.

A police official said the head of a calf was also found in the debris, prompting the police to also investigate if an animal had been used in the attack -- the intensity of the blast appears to be far more than what can be caused by a suicide jacket.

It is the first time that such an attack has been carried out on a high-profile member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), particularly in Punjab.