Lahore suicide blast at police 15 building death toll mounts to 30

LAHORE: The suicide car bomb blast at Rescue-15 building adjacent to CCPO Office killed 23 people and injured over 300 others here in Civil Line area on Wednesday.

The injured have been shifted to different hospitals of the city where medical aid is being provided to them.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the blast.

According to sources, gunshots were being heard near the blast site for minutes before a speeding red van laden with explosives broke the barriers outside the Rescue-15 building and blew up with a loud blast, bringing down the entire building.

The suicide bomber intended to target the office of the CCPO, sources added.

Explosives weighing 100 kilograms were used in the explosion which was followed by gunshots in the area with intervals while four suspects were arrested from the blast site.

Windowpanes of the nearby buildings and houses were shattered and 15 vehicles were destroyed as thick smoke clouded the blast site.


Rescue activities were kick-started after the blast and the injured were whisked away by ambulances to Meo, Gangaram and Services hospitals.

Machines are being used to recover people trapped under the debris. Six of the ten bodies brought to Meo Hospital were of policemen while two bodies are beyond recognition.

Car bomb blast in Peshawar kills 11 and many injured

Saturday, May 16, 2009
PESHAWAR: Bomb blast here in densely populated area of Berisco killed at least 11 people and wounded 11 others on Saturday.

The bomb planted in a car parked opposite of Bargain Centre went off with a loud blast, killing 11 people including women and children and injuring 20 others. A nearby building was damaged while a number of vehicles were completely destroyed.

A school bus carrying 15 children passing by the place of incident was totally damaged. The scene of incident being a centrally located place was bustling with life and there was huge rush. The blast followed by heavy firing let loose a reign of terror all around.

Edhi sources said that 20 persons mostly children were injured in the incident. Among the injured shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital here, 8 persons were in critical condition, where emergency has been declared.

Several vehicles and the nearby buildings were also damaged. Bomb disposal squad and the police have arrived at the scene, while the security persons have besieged the area, but the people from nearby were seen crowding the place of incident. Eyewitnesses said that the blast target a net café, which was receiving threats for sometime. The net café was blown up by the incident.

Sources said that police have taken into custody three suspects from the scene of incident, ho have been shifted to an unknown place for interrogation.

More than 670,000 leave Swat, Malakand: UN

SWAT: The number of people who have fled fighting in northwest Pakistan and registered with authorities in the last 11 days has jumped to more than 670,000, the UN refugee agency said Wednesday.

"The new figure of registered people since May 2 for the new influx is 670,906. That breaks down to, 79,842 in the camps and 591,064 out of camps," UNHCR spokeswoman Ariane Rummery told reporters.

Those who were not sheltering in camps may be renting homes, staying with
friends or relatives, or camping out elsewhere, Rummery said.

The total number of those displaced by the latest fighting between the military and the Taliban was likely to be higher.

"We recognise this is not every single person who has fled. Some people may still be waiting to register or not want to," said Rummery.

Wednesday's number was up from the 501,496 people who had registered as of late Tuesday.

11 militants killed in Swat: military

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 11 more militants during the past 24 hours in restive Swat valley, Inter-Services Public Relation said on Wednesday.

A key militant commander, Naseeb Khan, is also among dead in the latest offensive, it said.

In a handout issued here, the ISPR said that four soldiers were martyred and 12 others wounded in the fighting.

Meanwhile, security forces have taken complete control of Peochar area, believed to be a stronghold of Taliban militants.

ISPR further said that “Security forces have also taken positions in Benai Baba shrine and Brem Bridge.”

Chief Of Army Staff directs troops to ensure local population safety

ISLAMABAD:
Chief Of Army Staff(COAS) General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani has instructed the Army to ensure minimum collateral damage even at the expense of taking risks, by resorting to precision strikes.

According to statement issued by ISPR, Pakistan Army is acutely aware of the nature of ongoing operations in Swat and elsewhere, and their likely fallouts.

Consequent to any military operation in populated areas, collateral damage and IDP issues are always a natural outcome. In fact the overall success of operations in such areas is a sum total of the three efforts i.e conduct of military operations, minimizing collateral damage and correctly managing IDPs.

COAS said that management of IDPs is as important as military operation in Swat. It has been decided to provide all out support to Government and International Agencies in the management and rehabilitation of IDPs.

For the first time in its history, Pakistan Army has taken a decision to give part of its daily ration items of daily food; Atta, Sugar, Ghee and Dhall to these IDPs. This exemplifies the Army’s spirit of sacrifice.

The food items so provided will be able to daily feed about 80,000 adults. Furthermore, Army is deploying its medical resources in all the IDPs camps. These medical camps will have adequate medicines for 90 days. Local Military Hospitals will also go on surge to treat patients.