Blast in Islamabad: Cops among 14 Killed     
‘Pakistan Times’ Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: A suicide bomber blew himself up – among a group of policemen during clashes at the Lal Mosque here on Friday – killing at least 14 people and injuring over 60 others.

Most of the victims included the cops, sources said.

The blast came after hundreds of radical students occupied the mosque in the heart of Islamabad after its official reopening.

Policemen's caps and shoes lay alongside body parts at the scene of the blast in one of the leafy city's busiest bazaars, where police were sitting after firing tear gas at stone- throwing protesters, the eyewitnesses said.

"A man detonated explosives strapped to his body among two rows of Punjab police constabulary members who were there on duty because of the unrest at the Red Mosque," a security official was quoted by media as saying.

"At least 13 people have been killed and many wounded. Most of the dead were policemen," he added.

Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, who gave a provisional death toll of 11, seven of whom he said were police, said: "The incident was linked to the Red Mosque situation."

"I saw bodies flying through the air, some were without legs and some were without arms. I put as many as I could into ambulances," policeman Mukhtar Ahmad said.

No group has, by now claimed responsibility for the attack but it comes amid a wave of violence following the weeklong siege and subsequent storming of the mosque between July 3 and 11.

Unrest erupted at the mosque when radical students chased out a government-nominated elder who was meant to lead the first Friday prayers there since the operation two weeks ago.

Around a dozen people using rollers daubed red paint over the walls, which had been changed to a peach colour during government renovations.

Hardliners at the mosque hurled rocks at armoured police vehicles and officers in riot gear, injuring two policemen, officials said. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and arrested six people.

The students demanded the return of the mosque's chief cleric, Abdul Aziz, who was caught while trying to flee the compound in a woman's burqa during the siege and is now in jail awaiting trial on terror charges.

Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq reopened the complex – renamed it as the Central Mosque – on Thursday.

But despite tight security, the students on Friday stopped prayer leader Imam Mohammad Ashfaq taking up his position at the mosque's pulpit and used the microphone to deliver their own furious speeches against the government.

"I was told everything would be peaceful. I was never interested in taking up this job and after today I will never do it," Ashfaq said as he left with a police escort.

The protesters also threw shoes at cameramen and reporters covering the event.

"We worked day and night to open the mosque for people to offer prayers but some people, mainly former students, are trying to create mischief," interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said.

DC's Viewpoint

At least 11 people including two policemen were killed and 39 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the busy Aabpara Market in the federal capital Friday afternoon, the district administration said.

“It was a suicide attack that killed 11 people including two police personnel and nine civilians,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali said.

The explosion occurred in Muzaffar Hotel in the usually crowded shopping centre where the police personnel were on duty in connection with the unrest at the nearby Lal Masjid.

Earlier in the day when the administration opened the Lal Masjid for the first time after the recent operation against miscreants, followers of Maulana Abdul Aziz barred the nominated Khateeb Maulana Ashfaq to lead the Friday prayers.

They resorted to agitation and pelting stones on the police personnel despite all restraint by the law enforcing agencies.

The police personnel were deployed in front of the hotel to meet any untoward situation when the bomber targeted it.

The Target

Meanwhile, Ministry of Interior Spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema Friday strongly condemned the Aabpara blast which claimed several precious lives.

Talking with state-run television network, the Spokesman said it apparently looks that police personnel were targeted in the blast, however nothing could be confirmed at this stage as investigation is underway.

He said eleven persons were killed, including seven policemen, and 43 others injured in the blast.

The spokesman said Islam does not allow taking lives of innocent people rather it is a religion of peace and harmony.

To a question he said there was tremendous pressure on the government to open at earliest the Lal Masjid for prayers on regular basis by people of the area.

So, he said the government with the untiring efforts completed the renovation work of the Lal Masjid and opened it for general public on Friday.

To a question he said that law enforcers were deployed around Lal Masjid to ensure security and there was no other intention whatsoever.

Mr. Javed Cheema said the students, who had surrendered before the government during the Lal Masjid Operation and later were released, were also seen inside the mosque creating disturbance.

He said the government would take stern action against those involved in creating disturbance in the mosque.

The spokesman said the government is committed to eliminate menace of terrorism and extremism from the society.

To a question he said no extra-ordinary restrictions would be imposed in the G-6 area.

President Condoles

President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed deep sense of shock and grief over the loss of precious lives in a bomb blast at Aabpara, Islamabad on Friday.

In his message from Abu Dhabi, the President expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the unfortunate incident.

He called upon the nation to stand united against such elements that were out to kill innocent people and distort the very image of the country.

The President exhorted the security agencies to make dedicated efforts for eliminating the menace of extremism and militancy.

He also directed the Islamabad administration to ensure that those who sustained injuries in the blast, were extended the best possible medical treatment at local hospital.

The President reiterated the government’s strong resolve to curb militancy and said that such dastardly acts would not deter it from fighting against militancy and terrorism.

PM Condemns Blast

And, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in an explosion near Aabpara this afternoon.

While strongly condemning the act of terror, the Prime Minister said that such acts of violence demonstrate the evil designs of militants and these incidents are only to serve the cause of anti Pakistan elements.

The Prime Minister reiterated that such terrorist attacks would not deter government’s resolve to fight terrorism and curb this menace.

He directed the law enforcement agencies, local administration as well as hospital managements to take immediate measures to look after the injured and also to beef-up the security arrangements in the capital.

Altaf Hussain

‘Pakistan Times’ UK Bureau adds from London; Condemning the suicide bomb attack in Islamabad, Chief of the Muttehadda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has termed this incident an open terrorism.

In a statement issued from London, the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain said that the elements involved in terrorism have once again disgraced Pakistan and the religion of Islam and such elements cannot be the friends of Islam and Pakistan.

Altaf Hussain said that the MQM is always against any type of terrorism.

He demanded from the federal government to take stern action against the elements involved in the Islamabad bomb blast and they will be punished under law.●