MOSCOW, November 16 (Sputnik) — A suicide bomber on Sunday targeted a vehicle convoy of Afghan lawmakers that included a prominent female MP Shukria Barakzai, killing three civilians and injuring 17 others. The blast, in which the attacker detonated an explosives-packed car, left the MPs’ vehicles severely damaged in the west of Kabul, close to the parliament, reports AFP.
Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said of the politician via Twitter that MP suffered small injuries but is fine, unfortunately the attack martyred three people and injured 17.
Minister of interior met MP Barekzai she is fine and suffers small injuries. Reports of her family killed in this attack are not true.
— Sediq Sediqqi (@moispokesman) November 16, 2014
“Unfortunately three civilians (were) martyred and around 17 injured in today’s attack," said Sediq Seddiqi.
Unfortunately Three civilians martyred and around 17 injured in today's attack in Darulaman.
— Sediq Sediqqi (@moispokesman) November 16, 2014
Barakzai’s work attracts fierce opposition from many Islamist groups and Muslim conservatives. She has spoken about receiving regular death threats, reports AFP.
"I survived because of my people's prayers," she told Reuters by telephone from her hospital bed.
Another female MP Shinkay Karokhil, said, “The target was a convoy of MPs who were driving toward the parliament. Shukria Barekzai was affected by the attack but she is fine.”
Member of Parliament Shukria Barakzai is a women's rights advocate and a close ally of new President Ashraf Ghani, who condemned the attack in a statement.
The attack comes a week after a suicide bomber entered the offices of Kabul's police chief in one of the most fortified areas of the capital and killed a senior officer, reports BBC.
It was just a day after President Ashraf Ghani ended a two-day visit to neighboring Pakistan, which is accused for sheltering insurgent leaders involved in many attacks in Afghanistan. Ghani, a supporter of women’s rights, said relations with Pakistan could aid security in the region as US-led NATO combat troops leave Afghanistan after more than a decade, stated AFP.
