Musharraf Orders Probe: Judge with 16 Killed in Quetta Blast  
By Murtaza Beg ‘Pakistan Times’ Balochistan Bureau Chief

QUETTA: Several people – including a Judge – were killed when a powerful blast jolted the premises of the district courts in Quetta, the metropolis of Balochistan province on Saturday.

Though there are different versions about the deaths, caused by this gory incident, initial reports put the death toll at 16 with almost over 35 injured.

Yet some sources say that the number of the dead could increase as some of the wounded were stated to be in precarious condition. Police rushed to the site after the blast and cordoned off the entire area.

The deceased and injured were shifted to civil hospital. Some of the injured are reported serious.

An earlier info had said that at least 15 including a senior civil judge were killed and over 25 were wounded Saturday in a big blast at Quetta district court’s license branch. The blast was a suicide bombing attack, police sources said.

After this gruesome incident, security in almost all the provinces, especially in Sindh and NWFP has been put on high alert with round-the-clock vigilance at every Entry and Exit point.

The explosion in Quetta occurred in the chamber of civil judge Abdul Wahid Durrani, claimed 15 lives including the civil judge and lawyers, police sources added.

Over 25 persons were injured in the blast, four of them said to be in a insecure position.

Balochistan’s police chief Tariq Khosa has been reported by a private television channel as saying that the blast was a suicide attack.

A head and body of an unidentified person was found from the spot, CCPO Quetta Rao Ahmed Khan told.

The agencies are investigating into the incident. According to officials, the bomber was about 20 years of age with small beard.

Details

As many as 15 people including a senior civil judge, four lawyers and three of their clerks (Munshis) were killed and 32 others injured in a powerful blast here in the premises of the city court on Saturday.

The blast occurred in the courtroom where the senior civil judge-I Abdul Wahid Durrani were hearing the cases. Besides, the chambers and courtrooms of more than 10 civil judges and judicial magistrates, the city court also houses the offices of city nazim, DIG Operation, SP Saddar, SP Traffic and Balochistan Bar Association.

Those killed in the incident included the judge Abdul Wahid Durrani, four lawyers Asadullah Mengal, Siddiq Noorzai, Abdul Hameed and Abdullah, three lawyers clerks Yar Mohammad, Mohammad Attiq and Shehryar and common men Abdul Ghias, Jamil Kakar, Haji Abdullah, Rahimullah, Ubaidullah, Bashir Ahmed and an unknown man. The injured included Mohammad Javed, Abdul Sattar, Merajuddin, Abdul Qahir, Umar Farooq, Azizullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Nabi, Wasim Khan, Sheikh Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmed, Nawab Khan, Ghulam Ali, Abdul Rahid, Nooruddin, Mohammad Zahir, Mohammad Ibrahim, Jumma Khan, Mohammad Haroon, Umar Bakhsh, Lal Mohammad, Khairullah, Abdul Rashid, Shah Mohammad, Noor Khan, Mir Jan, Ghulam Mustafa, Naqibullah, Sultan Ali, Salim Tareen and Aamir Sultan.

Meanwhile, PPO Tariq Masood Khosa visited the blast site where talking to newsmen he said police are making investigation to trace the actual cause of the blast, but added it is probably the result of a suicidal attack.

"This is a deplorable incident which has left the entire city in a state of sorrow and shock", he observed, but vowed to work out the case and trace the elements involved in this nefarious act.

"The incident has further enhanced our morale and spirit in the war against terrorism and we will not leave any stone unturned to check terrorism which is causing loss of innocent human lives", he pledged.

The involvement of foreign hand in the blast could not be ruled out, the PPO said, and added that the security of the city and important places would be beefed up after this incident. The incident would be investigated from all angles to reach the actual culprits, he assured.

Several people including a senior civil judge were killed and over 35 were wounded Saturday in a powerful blast at Quetta district court’s license branch.

The blast occurred in the chamber of civil judge Abdul Wahid Durrani, police said. According to preliminary info the blast claimed 15 or 16 lives including that of the civil judge, police sources said.

Over 25 persons were injured in the blast, four of them said to be in a precarious state. The most of injured are said to be lawyers.

Authorities have declared emergency in Civil Hospital Quetta.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Interior has said that the blast occurred at 11:05 PST [06:05 GMT] in the compound between civil court and the license branch.

Press Communiqué

And, a press communiqué, issued in Islamabad by the Ministry of Interior says that a powerful bomb explosion Saturday at the Quetta district courts killed 13 people, including a judge, and injured more than 20.

The explosion, which took place at 11:05 hours rocked the adjacent court of the senior civil judge Wahid Ali Durrani who was also killed.

The injured, who also include some lawyers and general public have been evacuated to Civil Hospital Quetta where the doctors are treating them.

Quetta administration and high officials of Balochistan police, including the PPO were on the site of the blast, investigating the incident. Further details would also follow as investigations are under way.

President Orders Probe

President General Pervez Musharraf, strongly condemning the Quetta bomb blast, has ordered for an immediate investigation into the matter.

The President said that such dastardly acts would not make any dent in the anti-terrorism determination of the government.

A news channel quoted President House sources as saying that President Musharraf has strongly condemned the Balochistan bomb blast immediately after obtaining the initial report about the Quetta incident from the high officials, intelligence organizations and the Balochistan government during his Faisalabad tour and termed this incident a conspiracy against the country and the nation.

President Musharraf said that these terrorism acts were repugnant to Islam and the Islamic teachings and asserted that the government would wipe out terrorism by making its anti-terrorism measures more affective.

President Musharraf has ordered the federal and provincial high officials and the intelligence organizations for holding immediate investigations into the incident and said that the culprits would not getaway from the punishments.

The President expressed his deep sympathy with the successors of those perished and directed the concerned officials to provide the best available medical facilities to those wounded in this incident.

Prime Minister Remarks

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack at a civil court in Quetta and reiterated government's resolve to check such acts with an iron hand.

The Prime Minister who was in the provincial capital to condole with the family members of police personnel killed in a recent suicide attack here, vowed to bring the culprits to book.

"Killing of innocent lives is against Islam andhumanity and will not go unpunished," the Prime Minister said. He issued directives for taking all possible measures to check recurrence of such incidents.

He described the Quetta attack as "a tragic incident" and said it will be investigated thoroughly and facts will be made public.

He directed the provincial authorities to conduct investigation and to provide best possible care to the injured in Quetta. He said such acts only strengthened government's resolve to continue its fight against terrorism.

The Prime Minister offered 'fateha' and condoled with the family members of slained Capital City Police Officer Malik Saad at his residence.

He saluted the supreme sacrifice rendered by the police force in the line of duty to save the precious lives. "The entire nation pays them tributes for their valour and hivalry," he added.

The Prime Minister expressed determination to make Pakistan a citadel of peace and tranquility.

He said a number of steps were being taken and urged the people not to loose patience as the government was committed to protect their lives and property.

Chief Justice Condoles

Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of senior Civil Judge Wahid Durrani in the bomb blast in Quetta.

He expressed his profound condolence with the families of senior civil judge and other people killed in the explosion. He condemned the explosion and demanded strict action against the culprits.

Gory Incident

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has strongly condemned this gory incident. He termed it part of the despicable activities of terrorists who are engaged in attempts to disturb law and order and reverse the nation’s march on the road to economic progress.

“Such criminal acts would not deter the government from pursuing with unwavering determination its goal of rooting out terrorism from the country,” the press release said.

Politicians Reax

Various leaders of political, social and religious organizations across the country said Saturday that the causes behind these suicide bomb blasts need to be explored.

Among those who issued condemnation statements here include many important personalities including Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammed Khan Jamali, Leader of the House Wasim Sajjad, Opposition Leader Mian Raza Rabbani, Speaker National Assembly Amir Hussain, Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, MMA Chief QAZi Hussain Ahmed, PPP leaders-- Dr Farhatullah Babar, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Muslim League leaders—Raja Zafarul Haq, Ahsan Iqbal, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Tehreek Insaaf Chief Imran Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan leader Pir Nasir Jamil Hashmi, Tehreek Istihkaam-e-Pakistan Britain leader Shamsur Rehman Awan, Rizwanud Din Qureshi Advocate, Muslim thinkers Forum—Prof. Niaz Irfan, Abdur Rafi Advocate, Federal ministers—Ejazul Haq, Mian Shamim Hyder, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Sumera Malik and Ghazi Gulab Jamal.

They prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the members of the bereaved families to bear the loss with perseverance.

They condemned the tragic incident at Quetta District Court's License Branch in which 13 people lost their precious lives.

MQM Chief Shocked

Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief adds from London; Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain Saturday urged the government to take up all essential measures to ensure the lives and properties of civilians.

He said this in a statement issued here in condemnation of Quetta bomb blast in Licence branch of District Court.

“Such elements that are playing gory game with civilians, deserve no consideration of any kind,” he remarked adding that all possible actions need to be taken up for the protection of civilians’ life and property.

Expressing his deep sorrow for the very sad deaths of Civil Judge Abdul Wahid Durrani, lawyers and other citizens, MQM chief appealed the workers to give blood donations in large number for those injured in the suicide blast.

High Alert in Lahore

The Punjab Police have declared red alert in city after Quetta blast Saturday. Police pickets have been established for monitoring suspect motorcyclists and car riders while police security has been beefed up in sensitive areas.

DIG Muhammad Azam Joyia said on Saturday that security around trade centers, courts, lawyer chambers, hospitals, railway stations, bus stops and sensitive areas have tightened.

All police officers of DSP and SP ranks would work round the clock. Mobile squad and security at important places has reorganized while Mujahid force and Muhafiz force would establish police pickets where they check suspicious motorcycles and four wheels vehicles, he added.

Security in Sindh

‘Pakistan Times’ Sindh Bureau adds; Capital City Police Officer Karachi Azhar Ali Farooqui Saturday declared security high alert in the metropolis and issued directives to DIG Operations and all town police officers for tightened security at key points of the city and increase in police patrolling.

Meanwhile, Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim have condemned the Quetta blast and expressed sympathy with the victims.

In a message to the Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Muhammad Yousuf they termed the blast a crime against humanity.

Measures in Peshawar

And a story by ‘Pakistan Times’ NWFP Bureau says; Highly stringent security arrangements have been made in Peshawar, following the Quetta bomb blast.

Peshawar SSP, Iftikhar Ahmad said that the security in the city was put on high alert, following the occurrence of the recent terrorism incidents in the country.

Police check-posts have been set up at all the entry and exit points of the roads to and from the city and the passing persons besides the vehicles were being thoroughly checked.

SSP told that all the government buildings in the city were being strictly guarded, while the patrolling in different areas has also been intensified.

Besides this, he said that plain clothed policemen have been posted at the different vintage points and markets of the city for keeping an eye on anything suspicious.●