Guard killed in suicide attack at Police station

By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—At least two persons including a police constable and suicide bomber were killed and five others injured in a powerful blast at the gate of Special Branch of Police station in Sector G-7 near Sitara Market here on Monday, police and eye witnesses said.
A suspected bomber around 8:00 P.M tried to enter into the Special Branch of Police where he was barred by guards at a checkpoint at the gate as a result he blew himself up, killing one police constable on the spot, witnesses said. The police constable who was killed in the suicide bombing was identified as Faisal. The blast was so loud that it shattered the window panes of the surrounding buildings.
Ambulances and rescue teams reached the scene and initiated rescue operations soon after the attack and collected scattered limbs for forensics and other evidences from the scene. The injured were shifted to Government Services Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences were emergency have been declared. “So far only one person had been brought to the Polyclinic hospital whose name is said to be Muhammad Karim”, said doctors engaged with his medical treatment. He, however, said that Karim is out of danger.”
Injured Muhammad Karim is stated to be a computer operator in the building where usually 100 to 150 officers work Advisor Interior Rehman Malik who reached at the scene confirmed that it was suicide attack. He said there were authentic reports of carrying out subversive activities to the intelligence agencies in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The police Cop Faisal, he said scarified his life but he averted a big loss had the suicide bomber entered into the building, Malik added. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the suicide bomb attack on the offices of special branch police at Sitara Market in Islamabad.In their statements, the President and the Prime Minister said the perpetrators of the heinous terrorist attack will not go unpunished.They ordered the Interior Ministry to hold immediate inquiry into the incident.They directed the hospital authorities to provide best possible medical care to the injured.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik said the suicide blast at a police station near Sitara Market was carried out by one among the `series of bombers’ who sneaked into the Capital before Long March. “We had a very authentic information that some 15-20 Uzbek suicide bombers were sent by Baitullah Mehsud following a meeting of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” the Interior Advisor told media on Monday. Malik said a police constable named Faisal embraced martyrdom while trying to stop the suicide bomber who tried to force his way into the premises. “I salute this brave policeman for showing such an act of gallantry,” Malik said. Meanwhile, five other persons were reported wounded in the blast.
The Interior Advisor said security in Islamabad was put on high alert as they had information of today’s attack. Asked as to how could the suicide bomber could make it if elaborate security cover was in place, he said “no effective mechanism has so far been developed anywhere in the world to preempt suicide bombing” (Daily Mail)

Balcohistan PA passes motion against potential drone attacks

QUETTA: Balochistan Assembly on Saturday unanimously passed a motion against probable U.S. drone attacks.

According to sources, the resolution presented by Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) urged federal government and other institutions to play their due role against possible U.S. drone attacks in Balochistan.

Senior Minister of JUI (F) Maulana Abdul Wasaay said federal government and other bodies should brief United Stated and Nato forces about efforts made against terrorism and tell them that their reservations are baseless.

Attorney general Latif Khosa directs deputy to file review petition

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Latif Khosa has directed deputy attorney general to file a review petition in Sharif brothers’ eligibility case.

According to sources, Khosa said petition would be filed soon after the detail decision. Deputy Attorney General Agha Tariq will file the petition.

Agha Tariq said he got the message of attorney general regarding petition, which will be filed after reviewing the legal points of previous decision.

India hands over replies to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: In a major development, India has handed over its reply to the 30 questions raised by Pakistan after studying the 26/11 dossier. The Indian dossier runs in 401 pages.

The reply includes CDs and voice intercepts of terrorists.

Speaking on the issue, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "All of Pakistan's 30 questions related to Mumbai terror attacks have been answered. These replies have been backed with evidence like forensic reports."

Chidambaram also said that if Pakistan is serious, these answers provide them solid base to prosecute.

The Home Minister handed over the replies to Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee who in turn handed it over to Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto, son of the late Benazir, is said to be planning to run for treasurer in the student elections

News arrives that the Oxford Union Society is indulging in its second favourite pastime Bilawal Bhutto, the 20-year-old son of the late Benazir, is said to be planning to run for treasurer in the student elections next week. His mother was, of course, the first Asian female president of the society in 1976.

“The fact his mother was president is certainly a factor,” a student mole reports. “Bilawal, who’s in his second year reading history at Christ Church, wants to emulate her and there’s a sense of a dynasty. They say his father wanted him to run when he first came to Oxford, but he’s always said he’s going on to do serious work later in life, so he might as well enjoy himself first.”

And what does Bhutto himself say? When cornered at a student party, he offered an enigmatic “Maybe.” Apparently he is wary about the society’s reputation for being brutal and bitchy. If he is hoping to follow in his Mum’s footsteps and become prime minister of Pakistan, you’d think dealing with a few braying undergraduates would be a doddle. (Times online)

Pakistan arrests 3 people on attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team

ISLAMABAD, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani police have arrested three people in connection with the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in eastern city of Lahore, local television reported on Wednesday.

The three people have been arrested for providing assistance in the attacks, private Geo TV channel said.

Habibur Rehman, a police officer in Lahore, also told reporters that the raids to capture the suspects are underway and good news will be revealed soon.

At least seven persons including five policemen were killed and 19 others including seven Sri Lankan cricket players were injured in the terrorist attacks.

Pakistan Attack Puts 2011 Cricket World Cup Matches in Jeopardy

March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Cricket’s run of near misses with terrorists ended today when gunmen injured Sri Lanka players and killed at least five policemen in Pakistan, casting doubt over future matches in the region including the 2011 World Cup.

“This is the first time that cricketers have been attacked,” said N. Srinivasan, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, in an interview.

Two players received gunshot wounds as 12 terrorists carrying rocket launchers and grenades targeted a team bus 500 yards from the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore, where Sri Lanka was due to face Pakistan today. None of the players was seriously injured, team officials said.

Sri Lanka was only playing after India scrapped a visit because of security fears following the Mumbai attacks in November. Terrorists then targeted foreigners, including a hotel used by England’s team weeks earlier. The 2011 World Cup is scheduled for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“That tournament is now in jeopardy,” said Ramachandra Guha, a cricket historian, in a telephone interview from Bangalore. “No one will agree to go to Pakistan. That will be a massive blow to cricket in the entire subcontinent.”

Sri Lanka canceled its tour after today’s attack and President Mahinda Rajapaksa berated a “cowardly” act on “goodwill ambassadors.” Nations including Australia have refused to play in Pakistan in recent years and the International Cricket Council first postponed and then took away its Champions Trophy from Pakistan originally scheduled for last September.

‘Death of Cricket’

“It’s the death of cricket in Pakistan,” said Shaukat Qadir, a security analyst and retired Pakistani army brigadier general, in an interview. “Only Sri Lanka had the courage to come and play here.”

Sri Lanka was contesting the first Test series to take place in Pakistan since South Africa’s visit in October 2007. New Zealand quit a 2002 series after a bomb near the team hotel in Karachi killed 11 people.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat told the BBC no World Cup games will take place in Pakistan without “dramatic changes” in security. He will hold a news conference in London.

“There obviously have been breaches and the security has not been good enough,” Lorgat told Times Now.

The next team scheduled to visit Pakistan is New Zealand, in December, while England is due to travel to the Asian nation in February 2010. Pakistan was awarded one of the semifinals at the Cricket World Cup in two years’ time.

‘Saddest Day’

“This is the saddest day for all sportsmen,” former Pakistani cricket captain Javed Miandad told GEO TV. “The future of cricket in Pakistan doesn’t look good.”

The attack won’t alter plans to hold the Indian Premier League from next month, Srinivasan said. During last year’s event, players sought assurances after bombs in the northern Indian city of Jaipur killed as many as 60 people in a market frequented by cricketers.

England’s cricket team flew home from India immediately after the November attacks in Mumbai before later returning. The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 competition was postponed because of those attacks.

“Every part of the world has to learn to deal with terrorism,” Srinivasan said. “We had concerns about safety (in Pakistan) and also it was after the Bombay attacks so we decided to scrap the tour.”

Pakistan won’t host international teams for at least a year, said cricket historian Guha, while former Australia player Brendon Julian predicted an impasse lasting two years when speaking on Fox Sports today.

‘Rebuild Confidence’

“It is a big dent,” Pakistan’s Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said in an interview. “It will take a coordinated effort to rebuild confidence.”

India and Pakistan used cricket to improve relations when they resumed playing each other in 2004 in the so-called Friendship Series, two years after being on the brink of war. Further matches look unlikely any time soon, former Pakistan cricket captain Asif Iqbal said.

India blamed terrorist “elements” from Pakistan for the Mumbai assault that killed 164 people. It presented a dossier on its evidence to Pakistan in January. After studying the document, the government in Islamabad asked India to answer 30 questions on the findings.

“Nobody can give any assurances when people are prepared to go to these extremes,” Asif said on NDTV from London.