ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (APP): As many as ten faithfuls embraced Shahadat and 20 sustained injuries in a suicide blast in parade lane mosque near Qasim market, Peshawar road, Rawalpindi during Juma prayers. According to various private TV channels, the injured have been shifted to nearby Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
Updated at: 1515 PST, Friday, December 04, 2009
RAWALPINDI: Twenty persons have been killed and many injured in Parade Lanes mosque suicide attacks, firing and blasts in Rawalpindi.
DG ISPR has confirmed the reports of blasts and firing around the mosque. According to reports, at least six to seven gunmen entered into Parade Lanes mosque located near Qasim market. They threw hand grenades initially followed by indiscriminate firing. Security forces officials opened retaliatory fire.
Security force cordoned off the roads leading toward the mosque and helicopters are hovering over the affected area.
The injured have been shifted to CMH and other hospitals. Large number of people was present in the mosque when the incident happened as firing is still going on. Security forces and Rescue 1122 teams are present at incident site whereas snipers have been deployed at the buildings in the area.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AFP) – At least 30 people were killed on Friday when gunmen stormed a mosque in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi, detonating bombs and shooting at worshippers, the interior minister said.
"There were two suicide bombers and the roof of the mosque collapsed," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the private ARY television channel.
"According to the information I received a few moments ago, above 30 were killed and there are so many people injured."
Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP that the mosque was situated on Parade Lane, an area frequented by military officers.
"More than one terrorist attacked. They exploded bombs inside the mosque.... There were shots fired but we don't know whether it was from the military or the terrorists," he said.
"Terrorists were killed but we don't yet know how many."
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At least 39 killed in Pakistan mosque attack
04 Dec 2009 10:48:50 GMT
Source: Reuters
* Attackers throw hand grenades, open fire
* Compound attacked in October
* Pakistan under U.S. pressure to fight militants
* For more on Pakistan and Afghanistan, click on [nAFPAK]
By Augustine Anthony
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Militants hurled hand grenades then fired on a mosque near Pakistan's military headquarters after Friday prayers, killing at least 39 people, rescue services said.
The mosque is frequented by military officials in the garrison town of Rawalpindi. A helicopter hovered over the scene, apparently searching for militants who may have fled after the attack, which wounded more than 40.
Pakistan is fighting Taliban fighters blamed for bombings that have killed hundreds of people since an offensive was launched on their stronghold South Waziristan in October.
It faces mounting U.S. pressure to root out Islamist militants operating along border areas to help in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"The mosque was attacked by terrorists during Friday prayers. There was more than one attacker, for sure...," said military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
"As I said there were certainly more than one attacker, so there is a possibility that some of them may still be hiding in the vicinity."
The violence will press President Asif Ali Zardari to ease the threat from the Taliban insurgency. But he is a deeply unpopular leader who has been at odds with the military, which sets national security policy.
In October, suspected Taliban gunmen wearing army uniforms attacked the army headquarters, killing three hostages and two army commandos. (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/afghanistanpakistan) (Additional reporting by Kamran Haider; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Alex Richardson) ((E-mail: michael.georgy@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: michael.georgy.reuters.com@reuters.net; Islamabad newsr oom: +92 51 281 0017)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)
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راولپنڈی: مسجد میں فائرنگ اور دھماکے، بتیس ہلاک
شہزاد ملک
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، راولپنڈی
راولپنڈی میں پشاور روڈ پر واقع قاسم مارکیٹ میں مسجد میں دھماکوں اور فائرنگ کے نتیجے میں بتیس افراد ہلاک اور چالیس سے زائد زخمی ہوئے ہیں۔
پاکستان فوج کے شعبہ تعلقات عامہ آئی ایس پی آر نے پریڈ روڈ کی مسجد میں ہونے والے اس واقعے میں بتیس افراد ہلاک ہونے کی تصدیق کی ہے۔ آئی ایس پی آر کے مطابق چالیس سے زائد افراد زخمی ہیں۔
تاہم ریجنل پولیس آفیسر اسلم ترین نے اس واقعے میں ہلاکتوں کی تعداد چالیس بتائی ہے جبکہ 83 افراد زخمی ہیں۔
ڈسٹرکٹ ایمرجنسی آفیسر راولپنڈی ڈاکٹر رحمان سے سرکاری ٹی وی سے بات کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ ستائیس افراد ہلاک ہوئے ہیں اور سینتیس افراد زخمی ہیں جن میں سے پندرہ کی حالت تشویشناک ہے۔
فوج نے علاقے کو گھیرے میں لے لیا ہے اور ریسکیو 1122 کی ایمبولینسز کو بھی پریڈ لین میں جانے کی اجازت نہیں دی جا رہی ہے۔ فوجی اہلکار مسجد میں ہوئے ہلاک اور زخمیوں کو پریڈ لین سے باہر لا رہے ہیں جہاں پر ایمبولینسز میں ڈالا جا رہا ہے۔
یہ واقعہ راولپنڈی میں ویسٹریج میں واقع پریڈ لین میں واقع مسجد میں ہوا ہے۔ راولپنڈی کے سی پی او راؤ اقبال نے بی بی سی کو بتایا کہ حملہ آور مسجد سے نکل کر گلیوں میں نکل گئے ہیں اور ان کی تلاش جاری ہے۔
ملک ندیم شفیع ایک عینی شاہد نے بتایا کہ وہ جمعہ کی نماز پڑھنے جا رہا تھا کہ تین دھماکے ہوئے اور اس کے بعد اندھیرا چھا گیا۔
ملک ندیم شفیع ایک عینی شاہد نے بتایا کہ وہ جمعہ کی نماز پڑھنے جا رہا تھا کہ تین دھماکے ہوئے اور اس کے بعد اندھیرا چھا گیا۔
سرکاری ٹی وی کے مطابق سات حملہ آور تھے جنہوں نے مسجد میں موجود تقریباً ستر سے زائد افراد پر پہلے گرینیڈ پھینکے اور اس کے بعد فائرنگ شروع کر دی۔
راولپنڈی پولیس کے کانسٹیبل نے نام نہ ظاہر کی شرط پر بی بی سی کو بتایا کہ حملہ آور سلور رنگ کی کرولا میں آئے تھے اور وہ گاڑی ابھی بھی مسجد کے باہر کھڑی ہے۔
سکیورٹی اہلکاروں نے میڈیا کو جائے وقوعہ سے بہت دور روک دیا ہے۔ علاقے پر فوجی ہیلی کاپٹر کی پروازیں جاری ہیں۔
سرکاری ٹی وی کے مطابق پریڈ لین مسجد میں دھماکے نماز جمعہ کے وقت ہوئے۔ اس مسجد میں سکیورٹی خدشات کے باعث عید الاضحیٰ پر نماز نہیں کرائی گئی تھی۔
واضح رہے کہ پریڈ لین میں حاضر سروس اور ریٹائرڈ جنرل رہتے ہیں۔ بریڈ لین اور اس کے ارد گرد کے علاقے گنجان آباد علاقے ہیں۔
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By Augustine Anthony Augustine Anthony – 35 mins ago
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Three suicide bombers fired on worshipers then blew themselves up at a mosque near Pakistan's military headquarters after Friday prayers, killing 40 people, including many army officials, police said.
The mosque is frequented by military officials in the town of Rawalpindi, home to Pakistan's military establishment and only a 30-minute drive from the capital Islamabad.
The brazen attack in what should be one of the most secure areas of Pakistan was the latest challenge by militants against the writ of the state. A local television station said people were executed in cold blood.
Pakistan is fighting Taliban fighters blamed for bombings that have killed hundreds of people since an offensive was launched on their stronghold South Waziristan in October.
The nuclear-armed country faces mounting U.S. pressure to root out Islamist militants operating along forbidding border areas to help in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"They were three. They first opened fire and then blew themselves up," Rao Iqbal, Rawalpindi police chief, told Reuters.
Witnesses said earlier that attackers hurled grenades then opened fire on the mosque. A policeman said the militants arrived in a grey Toyota car.
The cleric had just finished his sermon with the phrase "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) when an explosion shook worshippers in the Parade Lane mosque.
"AMERICA'S WAR"
"As soon as we finished prayers. I heard a blast and firing. I saw some wounded laying in the courtyard of the mosque," said Bakhtawar Hussain.
The violence will pressure President Asif Ali Zardari to do more to neutralize the threat from the stubborn Taliban insurgency. But he is an increasingly unpopular figure who has been at odds with the all-powerful military, which sets national security policy.
"There is a possibility that some of them may still be hiding in the vicinity," said military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
It was the second brazen assault on the area since October, when suspected Taliban gunmen wearing army uniforms attacked the army compound, killing three hostages and two army commandos.
"Initial information indicates that they were two to three attackers who entered the mosque by scaling a wall," senior police official Aslam Tarin told Reuters of Friday's attack. He said 40 people were killed and 26 wounded.
A helicopter hovered over a wide avenue sealed off by security forces with G3 rifles, apparently searching for militants who may have fled after the attack.
In outlining his Afghanistan strategy in a speech on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama made a plea to Pakistan to fight the "cancer" of extremism and said Washington would not tolerate Pakistan allowing its territory to be a safe haven for militants.
That request may be unrealistic in a country where anti-U.S. feelings and suspicions run high. Many say Pakistan should not be fighting the United States' war against militants. Failure in Afghanistan could heavily damage Obama's presidency.
"This is not our war. This is America's war and as long as we continue to stay in the American bloc things will not change," said Rawalpindi resident Mujtaba Abbasi.
(Additional reporting by Kamran Haider; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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17 children among 37 martyred in Pindi attack
Updated at: 2230 PST, Friday, December 04, 2009
RAWALPINDI: Thirty-seven people including 17 children, 10 civilians, 10 Army personnel embraced shahadat when terrorists attacked a mosque in Parade Lane, Rawalpindi, Saddar Friday.
According to ISPR, reportedly 4 terrorists approached a mosque inside officers residential colony in Parade Lane, Rawalpindi Saddar and hurled grenades on Namazies followed by indiscriminate firing. Meanwhile two suicide bombers entered the Mosque and blew themselves killing 35 Namazies who were offering Jumma prayers. Security forces personnel in the area responded immediately and 2 other terrorists were killed in exchange of fire.
75 personnel were injured in the same incident. Names of those who embraced shahadat are: Major General Umer Bilal, Brigadier Abdul Rauf, Lieutenant Colonel Fakhar, Lieutenant Colonel Manzoor Saeed, Major Zahid, Major (Retd) Shoaib, Naik Masood, Sepoy Abdul Qayyum, Sepoy Sarwar, Child Bilal Riaz S/O Major General Nasim Riaz, Child Ali Hassan S/O Colonel Shabbir, Child Hassan S/O Colonel Shukhran, Child Sadaul Hassan S/O Lieutenant Colonel Fakhar, Child Zamin S/O Engineer Akmal Hussain, Child Qaisar Khan S/O Syed Akbar, Child Adil Rauf S/O Abdul Raud, Child Muhammad Khan S/O Sultan Bakhsh, Child Fazal Khan S/O Madad Khan, Child Hashim, name not known S/O Brigadier (R) Sadiq, name not known S/O Brigadier Mumtaz, name not known S/O Colonel Qaiser, name not known S/O Colonel Kaleem Zubair, name not known S/O Lieutenant Colonel Shoaib, name not known S/O Major Saleem, name not known S/O Major Ahsan, Deputy Director NLC Taskeen, father of Major General Awais Mustafa, F/O Colonel Kaleem Zubair, F/O Lieutenant Colonel Farooq Awan, Civilian Kahlid Javed, Civilian Ghulam Mujtaba, Civilian Javed S/O Ghani Khan, Civilian Muhammad Fiaz, Civilian Asad and Civilian Name not known.
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Names of killed major general, brigadier, armymen and their kin
ISLAMABAD: Following are the names of the senior army officials and their kin killed in the terrorist attack at a mosque in Rawalpindi’s Parade Lane on Friday. Major General Umer Bilal, Brigadier Abdul Rauf, Colonel Mansoor, Lieutenant Colonel Fakhar, Lieutenant Colonel Manzoor Saeed, Major Zahid, Major (r) Shoaib, Naik Masood, Sepoy Sarwar and Sepoy Abdul Qayyum.
Children killed in the attack included Bilal Riaz, son of Major General Nasim Riaz; Ali Hasan, son of Colonel Shabbir; Hassan, son of Colonel Shukhran; Sadaul Hasan, son of Lieutenant Colonel Fakhar; Zamin, son of Akmal Hussain; Qaiser Khan, son of Syed Akbar; Adil Rauf, son of Abdul Rauf; Muhammad Khan, son of Sultan Bakhsh; Fazal Khan, son of Madad Khan; and Hashim, son of Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Masood Aslam.
Names of seven children, who according to the Inter-Services Public Relations were sons of senior army officials, were yet to be ascertained. Father of Major General Awais Mustafa, father of Colonel Kaleem Zubair and father of Lieutenant Colonel Farooq Awan were also killed in the attack. According to the ISPR, the civilians killed in the terrorist attack included NLC Deputy Director Taskeen, Khalid Javed, Ghulam Mujtaba, Javed, Muhammad Fiaz and Asad. Names of the remaining people killed were yet to be ascertained. staff report
Parade Lane mosque akin to Masjid-e-Zarrar’
LAHORE: Claiming responsibility for Friday’s attack, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said the Parade Lane mosque was similar to Masjid-e-Zarrar built in Madina by the munafiqeen, and was “demolished on the orders of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”. Talking to BBC, TTP chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud said his men attacked senior army officers. “Our militants attacked the military officers (our primary target) and we will continue to attack the army,” he said, adding that the civilians killed in the attack were relatives of army personnel and their deaths “did not matter”. daily times monitor
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36 namazis killed as high-profile army officers targeted in Rawalpindi: Taliban attack masjid
* Terrorists hurl grenades into mosque, fire at worshippers
* Two attackers killed in gunbattle
* Witness says attackers pulled people by their hair and shot them
By Aamir Yasin
RAWALPINDI: At least 36 people – including a major general, a brigadier, a colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors, three soldiers and 17 children – were killed and 83 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers, aided by two gunmen, ripped through the Parade Lane Masjid, off Peshawar Road, during Friday prayers.
According to the AFP news agency, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters that the Taliban entered the mosque disguised as worshippers.
Grenades: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said four Taliban mounted the attack on the mosque – located inside an officers’ residential colony of Parade Lane, Rawalpindi – lobbing grenades and firing at worshipers. “Two of them – wearing suicide jackets – then entered the mosque and blew themselves up. Security personnel in the area responded immediately ... killing the other two Taliban outside the mosque,” said the ISPR.
AP quoted a police official as saying that the attack began when “several gunmen” staged an explosion to break through a checkpoint close to the mosque.
“I was parking my car outside the mosque when I heard a blast ... followed by firing,” said a witness, and put the number of attackers at “more than five”.
Another witness said the assailants retaliated when security personnel fired at them, and an exchange of fire ensued – with a military helicopter hovering over the area.
Others killed in the attack were also members of army officers’ families. Former vice chief of army staff Gen (r) Muhammad Yousaf was injured in the attack, while Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Masood Aslam’s son was among those killed.
Another witness said, “More than eight gunmen ... rushed into the mosque packed with at least 200 worshippers.”
Witness account: A private TV channel quoted a witness as saying that the assailants pulled people by their hair and shot them. Another witness said the Taliban struck immediately after the prayer leader’s Friday sermon.
Security forces and ambulances rushed to the mosque, and the entire area was cordoned off as rescue efforts began.
Security officials also searched the entire area, as it was reported that some Taliban had disappeared into adjoining streets. Survivors said the mosque had been severely damaged. The APP news agency reported security forces had seized a “rocket launcher and several grenades” left behind by the assailants.
Regional Police Officer Aslam Tareen said according to preliminary reports, “four suicide bombers” entered the mosque and started firing at worshippers, in addition to hurling grenades. “Later, two suicide bombers detonated their suicide jackets in the mosque, while the other two attackers were killed in an exchange of fire,” said the RPO. The president, the prime minister and the Punjab chief Minister strongly condemned the attack.
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Saturday, December 05, 2009
Sixth terror strike in twin cities within three months : Fear grips garrison city after mosque attack
* Business activity comes to a standstill in area
* Law enforcement agencies ‘intensify’ patrolling
* Helicopters hover over area to monitor movement of suspected people
* Peshawar Road blocked from Plaza Cinema to Chur Chowk
* Residents stay indoors, demand concrete security plan
By Aamir Yasin
RAWALPINDI: Fear and panic gripped the garrison city on Friday shortly after the suicide attack on a mosque at Parade Lane, Peshawar Road, in which 40 people, including a major general of army, were killed and 83 injured.
It was the sixth terrorist attack in three months in twin cities. On December 2, a suicide bomber attacked the Naval Complex in Islamabad, killing two soldiers and injuring 11 others. On October 20, the terrorist strike at International Islamic University Islamabad, left five dead and 31 injured. On October 10, the terrorists tried to enter army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) and on October 5, a suicide bomber blew himself up at World Food Programme offices, killing at least five people including a foreigner and injuring eight others.
Shops closed: The news about terrorist attack spread like a jungle fire and shopkeepers closed down their shops at Qasim Market and adjoining areas including Afshan Colony, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Westridge Bazaar and Transit Camp Chowk, Saddar, The Mall, Haider Road, bringing the commercial activities to a halt.
Action: The security forces came into action and increased patrolling in every part of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Rangers sealed Qasim Market area. Extra police force and law-enforcement agencies were deployed in surrounding areas and on the rooftops of nearby buildings.
Helicopters kept hovering over the Parade Lane, Peshawar Road to scan the area and watch movement of suspected people.
Road blocked: The traffic police immediately blocked the Peshawar Road with barricades from Plaza Cinema to Chur Chowk and continued to frisk people. They did not allow motorcyclists in the area.
Residents: The residents of the garrison city said how they could live in such tense and fearful situation when terrorists were wandering among them.
“I was at my shop when I heard the sound of blast. It knocked me down. I could not restore my senses for few moments before I got up and ran for shelter,” Riaz Khan, a shopkeeper at Qasim Market -close to the blast site, told Daily Times.
Mohammad Zaman, a resident of Raja Akram Road, said the terrorist activity terrified him and scared his family. “For some time, I was unable to move,” he said.
Intizar Ahmed, a resident of Peshawar Road, said the suicide attackers could hit any place if they enter the area. Why the government does not make a solid plan to get rid of terrorists as thousands of innocent people have been killed in suicide attacks in the country including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, he asked. Ali Hasan, a resident of Valley Road, said he was frightened after the terrorist attack. “We have been confined to our home since afternoon due to fear,” he said.
Raja Rasalat, a resident of Raja Akram Road, said when the police knew that some suicide attackers had entered Rawalpindi and Islamabad then why they were not arresting them. How people would move for their day-to-day work? he asked.
Another resident, Khalid Ahmed, said the mosques, bazaars and residential areas were also not safe for the people. He said the government should take practical steps to ensure protection to life and property of citizens instead of making tall claims.
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