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Suicide bomber hits Capital; 19 perish
15 police personnel among dead 40 injured
Blast occurred at the end of Lal Masjid conference
Rehman Malik says we are in a state of war with militants, orders
joint investigation into blast
President, PM, Zardari condemn blast
M S Tanvir
Islamabad—A suicide bomber killed at least 19 people including 15
police personnel and injured forty others in an attack on police
guarding an Islamist rally to mark the anniversary of an army raid on
the radical Red Mosque. According to eye witnessses account, a bearded
man about 30 to 35 years of age walked into the police contingent and
apparently blew himself up. The whole event at the mosque went
smoothly but then the suicide bomber targeted the security forces,”
interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters at the scene. “We
are in a state of war with militants who are trying to hit us
everywhere,” he said. He announced a reward of fifty lac rupees to the
informer about the mastermind of the suicide attack. “The blast
happened 15 minutes after the meeting dispersed. A heavy contingent of
police was at a main crossing several hundred metres from the mosque
and they were targeted in the attack. The government however gave
lower figures, with Information Minister Sherry Rehman telling
reporters that at least 12 policemen were known to have died.
Policemen’s batons, helmets and riot shields were scattered around the
site after the blast. Television footage showed bearded students
frantically running towards the scene and ambulances bringing the
wounded to hospitals. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned
the blast and ordered an inquiry, “Such incidents are against the
teachings of Islam and do not serve any purpose,” the Prime Minister
said.
A joint investigation team has been constituted to probe the melody
suicide blast, Advisor ministry of Interior Rehman Malik said on
Sunday. The upper torso of the suicide bomber has been found. Ruling
out any security lapse he said it was very difficult to stop a suicide
bomber. The target was policemen but they are in high spirits and
shifted the injured to various hospitals.The anti-Pakistani culprits
would be taken to task and the government would not succumb to their
pressure. Pakistan has been at war for the last 8 years.PPP inherited
but managed to nearly eliminate suicide blasts as only two blasts were
reported in last three months.PPP managed to control 98 percent
blasts. He strongly condemned the blast saying government would not
succumb to anti-Islamic elements. The enemies of Islam and Pakistan
would be eliminated. After the suicide blast a high-level meeting was
held in the Interior Ministry which was chaired by Advisor on Interior
to Prime Minster, Rehman Malik. Security matters were reviewed in the
meeting after the suicide blast. Earlier Rehman Malik visited the
Melody Chowk and inspected the place where the bomb exploded. After
the blast the Rawalpindi security has been put high on high alter to
avoid any untoward incident. The Pakistan Railway, Islamabad
International Airport and the sensitive installations have been put
under strict observation. Special commandos and personnel of elite
police force have been deployed to maintain the law and order in the
city and to avert any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday condemned the blast at
Melody Chowk and reiterated government’s commitment to root-out
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He has asked the
authorities concerned to conduct a thorough inquiry into the blast to
bring the culprits to justice. President Musharraf has also directed
the local administration to provide every possible medical care to the
injured.
He expressed condolences with those who lost their lives in the blast
and prayed for eternal rest to the departed souls. Asif Ali Zardari,
Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said that shedding the
blood of the innocent people in the name of a cause or religion was
despicable and must be rejected and condemned by all. Those who are
involved in such activities are defying the teachings of our great
religion, he added. The Prime Minister also directed the Minister for
Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and local PPP leader Zamurd Khan
and other party workers to help the injured. He asked them to keep an
eye on the treatment be-ing given to them and the supply of medicines
and other related necessities. It may be men-tioned that throughout
the day the congregation outside Lal Masjid remained peaceful and the
blast occurred away from the gathering. Minister for In-formation and
Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman after visiting PIMS to enquire about the
health of the injured strongly condemned the Melody blast and said,
government would never tolerate such acts and the perpetrators would
be taken to task. Neither our religion nor any welfare state allow
such acts. This is a hopeless attempt by those against the country and
the democracy,” she said talking to media. She said, the government
had taken appropriate measures for the security of the participants of
the Lal Masjid Conference and facilitated them. She said Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had directly been in touch with the
situation and kept inquiring about the measures taken for treatment of
the injured as well as maintaining law and order.
She reiterated to fight this menace with full might and bring to book
the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The minister said, she was
visiting the hospital on special directives of the Prime Minister Syed
Yousuf Raza Gilani who himself is supervising the situation and has
also ordered inquiry into the incident. The Prime Minister, she said,
has directed that victims of the blast would be given compensation and
also directed the hospital authorities to provide best medical
treatment to the injured. She said, suicide bombing incidents have
declined by 80 per cent in the present government’s tenure and the
government would take more measures to curb this menace. She ruled out
the possibility of any linkage between the Melody blast and operation
in FATA and said, “it was a hopeless attempt of enemies of the country
and the democracy.” She lauded the sacrifices of the police who laid
down their life for the cause of the country. “I eulogize them who
have laid down their lives in line of duty.” Earlier, the Minister
went to the injured and inquired about their health. The Minister
directed the hospital administration to ensure complete care of the
injured and extend them all possible medical facilities. She was
informed by Dr.Imran Sikandar that typical de-vice was used in blast
with small shrapnel that resulted in more casualties. IG Islamabad has
declared the bomb explosion at Melody Chowk, a suicide attack.
According to the officals also, a young man came close to policemen
and blew himself up. The bomb disposal squad also confirmed that the
explosion was a suicide attack after gathering evidence from the place
of incident.
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