On this day, a decade ago on June 11, 2011 Twin blasts in Peshawar kill two journalists and injured six others - Press Release issued by Pakistan Press Foundation.

Karachi -- June 11, 2021 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

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On this day, a decade ago on June 11, 2011, twin blasts in Peshawar killed 39 people and injured over 100 others. A journalist was killed was killed on the spot in the explosion while eight others were injured, one of whom succumbed to injuries and passed away just days later on June 17.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) remembers journalists Asfandyar Abid Naveed and Shafiullah Khan who lost their lives as a result of the deadly blast. We also pay tribute to all the media personnel, who at frontlines of such attacks, often themselves become the target.

A low-intensity blast caused by a small explosive planted in a toilet of a restaurant at 11:45pm on June 11 drew rescue workers and police to the scene. As the offices of several electronic and print media were also located in the densely populated area and, journalists who work and reside there also rushed to the spot. A few minutes later, a large explosion rocked the area when a man on a motorbike detonated his suicide vest, causing a high number of casualties.

The second blast left the nearby plazas severely damaged and smashed the window panes of several other buildings. Police investigators believed the first low intensity bomb was planted as a trap to target mostly the police and journalists who were expected to come to the site of the explosion. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had denied responsibility for the attack. Daily Akhbar-i-Khyber reporter Asfandyar Abid Naveed, 35, died on the spot as a result of the blasts.

Naveed had previously survived a suicide bombing that ripped through the Peshawar Press Club on December 22, 2009. He had also previously been struck by a speeding bus, resulting in fractures on one of his legs. Following that incident, he was hospitalized for several weeks and lost his job. Naveed had just recently started his position at Akhbar-i-Khyber when the blast took place and claimed his life.

Aside from Naveed, seven others were injured in the blasts - Dunya TV bureau chief Saifullah Gul, Dunya TV reporter Imran Bukhari, The News sub-editor Barkatullah Marwat, Geo TV reporter Qazi Fazlullah, AVT Khyber cameraman Hashim Ali, a trainee reporter at The News, Peshawar Shafiullah Khan and two reporters for the daily Akhbar-i-Khyber, Sheheryar and Riaz, were among the injured.

Khan, 28, succumbed to his injuries and passed away on June 17.Speaking to...