Suicide Bombings and its Socio-Economic Impact on the Effectees: A Case Study of Mina Bazar, Peshawar

Abstract

The present study is about Suicide Bombings and its Socio-Economic Impact on the Affectees. The study is the outcome of the fieldwork conducted in Peshawar. None can deny the general impacts of suicide attacks on the society. But the present research has discovered some very new aspects that were not known until now. The research is focused on the affected families of the Mina Bazar's bomb blast. The findings of the research are based on the study of sixty affected families. The researcher has categorized the affected families into three, i.e., (1) Family that lost their kin; (2) Family, that received injured persons; and (3) Family, that suffered economically. The research has discovered that how this bomb blast jolted the established socioeconomic order of the society. Somewhere authority has collapsed and new one has emerged. Joint families have either changed to nuclear or single parenthood families. The blast has changed the class structure in the locale due to economic losses. Physical dependency in the locale has increased. The familial relationship and affinity structure has disrupted with the death of some of the people. The surviving members of the affected families are carrying an extra responsibility due to death of the family members. Loss of human resource, decline in income, loss of economic assets were caused by the blast. The affected families are also having psychological problems. Fear, trauma, short-temper and anxiety are common among the affected families. The people expect some sort of help from investigators, formal visitors or other officials instead of self-help. The government fell short from the demands and expectations of the affected families in compensatory packages.