Pak Islamist leader escapes 2nd attack
Press Trust of India
Posted: Fri Apr 01 2011, 01:27 hrs Islamabad:
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Pakistan’s hardline JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had a narrow escape for the second day in a row on Thursday, when a suicide bomber targeted his motorcade in the country’s restive northwest, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 30 others.
The bomber struck just after the motorcade of 57-year-old Rehman, a member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament, entered Charsadda town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where he was to address a gathering at Darul Uloom Islamia seminary.
The powerful blast occurred near a government office and a private school, witnesses said.
Twelve people, including two members of Rehman’s security detail and a woman, were killed while over 30 others, including policemen and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) workers, were injured, officials said.
“I am fine. There was a powerful explosion near my car and the windscreen was shattered. Another car in my motorcade was damaged,” Rehman told the media.
He said he had seen several policemen who were injured by the blast.
Rehman cancelled his meeting in Charsadda after the blast.
A car in which senior JUI leaders Akram Khan Durrani and Azam Swati were travelling too was damaged in the attack, though they escaped unhurt.
Footage on television showed several cars that were damaged by the blast. The walls of a nearby mosque were pitted by ball bearings that were packed into the bomber’s explosive vest.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rehman escaped an attempt on his life on Wednesday as well when a suicide attacker tried to target his motorcade at Swabi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. That attack killed 10 people, including two policemen.
The attacks have surprised political observers as the JUI is perceived as being pro-Taliban.
Rehman has repeatedly called on the federal government to halt military operations against the militants.
Rehman told the media on Thursday that he had not received any threats. He refused to say who could be behind the two attempts on his life.
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Press Trust of India
Posted: Fri Apr 01 2011, 01:27 hrs Islamabad:
=================================================
Pakistan’s hardline JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had a narrow escape for the second day in a row on Thursday, when a suicide bomber targeted his motorcade in the country’s restive northwest, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 30 others.
The bomber struck just after the motorcade of 57-year-old Rehman, a member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament, entered Charsadda town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where he was to address a gathering at Darul Uloom Islamia seminary.
The powerful blast occurred near a government office and a private school, witnesses said.
Twelve people, including two members of Rehman’s security detail and a woman, were killed while over 30 others, including policemen and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) workers, were injured, officials said.
“I am fine. There was a powerful explosion near my car and the windscreen was shattered. Another car in my motorcade was damaged,” Rehman told the media.
He said he had seen several policemen who were injured by the blast.
Rehman cancelled his meeting in Charsadda after the blast.
A car in which senior JUI leaders Akram Khan Durrani and Azam Swati were travelling too was damaged in the attack, though they escaped unhurt.
Footage on television showed several cars that were damaged by the blast. The walls of a nearby mosque were pitted by ball bearings that were packed into the bomber’s explosive vest.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rehman escaped an attempt on his life on Wednesday as well when a suicide attacker tried to target his motorcade at Swabi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. That attack killed 10 people, including two policemen.
The attacks have surprised political observers as the JUI is perceived as being pro-Taliban.
Rehman has repeatedly called on the federal government to halt military operations against the militants.
Rehman told the media on Thursday that he had not received any threats. He refused to say who could be behind the two attempts on his life.
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