6th Moharram, 6 Explosions , Orangi Town, Dhok Syedan(Islam under attack in Islamabad): 50 dead

Pakistan attacks kill 28 as leaders meet for summit AFP Updated November 22, 2012, 2:52 pm tweet1 EmailPrint AFP © Enlarge photo ISLAMABAD (AFP) - A suicide bomber struck a night-time Shiite march in Pakistan, in the bloodiest attack of a day of violence that left at least 28 people dead as Islamic leaders gathered for a rare summit in Islamabad. Police in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near the capital said the attack on the procession of minority Shiite Muslims killed at least 16 people, after the suicide bomber blew himself up when he was stopped for a security check. Police used lamps and torches to work through the night, bagging evidence at the scene after the Shiite procession as part of observations for Muharram was hit en route to a mosque. The holy month is a magnet for sectarian attacks. As well as the 16 people killed, rescue service spokesman Waqas Rehman told AFP that another 32 people were wounded including nine children. Rawalpindi is adjacent to Islamabad, where thousands of extra police and paramilitary forces have been mobilised for the Developing 8 (D8) summit starting later on Thursday. Iran and Turkey are among the countries joining the summit of mainly Muslim nations which is meant to promote trade and investment. But Israel's latest offensive in Gaza is set to loom large, even if a truce is now in effect. The ceasefire was agreed in a deal between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas that was announced in Egypt on the eighth day of violence in and around Gaza that has killed at least 160 people. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi -- who was thanked by the United States for helping to broker the Israel-Hamas deal -- had been slated to join the Islamabad talks but state TV in Egypt said he would now stay home to monitor the truce. As well as the hosts Pakistan, the D8 also comprises Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria -- the only member which is not majority-Muslim. Its population is roughly divided between Muslims and Christians. Pakistan wants the summit to strengthen its international standing and help "remove misconceptions (about the country) created in a section of international media", a government statement said in the build-up to the gathering. In addition to the security deployment, construction work has been suspended around the diplomatic enclave to provide "God willing, foolproof security", Islamabad police chief Bani Amin told AFP. But Wednesday's long day of militant violence was an unwelcome reminder that Pakistan remains in the grip of unrest largely orchestrated by homegrown Taliban extremists bitterly opposed to the country's US-allied government. In the southwestern city of Quetta, bombers hit an army vehicle escorting children home from school, killing four soldiers and a woman, police said. More than 20 people were wounded when the bomb, planted on a motorcycle, was detonated by remote control, said city police chief Hamid Shakeel. Shopkeeper Mohammad Talib said he was returning to his shop after prayers at a nearby mosque. "Soon after, I heard a huge blast. There was dust and smoke. I saw an army vehicle in flames. Shards of glass were littered on the road. There was panic, people were screaming, others were fleeing the area," he said. Two people were killed in Pakistan's largest city Karachi when a bomb-laden motorcycle collided with a rickshaw near a Shiite mosque, city police chief Iqbal Hussain told AFP. In northwest Pakistan, four police died when gunmen ambushed a patrol in Bannu district, police official Nisar Ahmed Tanoli said. A roadside bomb elsewhere killed another police official. Because of such violence in the years since the September 11 attacks of 2001, Pakistan has rarely had a chance to host international gatherings, and the government had hoped to use the D8 summit to present a different image. =============== Muharram security breach: Blasts rip through Pindi, Karachi Over two dozen people injure­d in Wednes­day’s attack­s. By Faraz Khan / Umer Nangiana / Photo: Waseem Imran / Photo: Irfan AliPublished: November 22, 2012 At least ten people are killed and over 15 injured when a suicide bomber struck a Muharram procession at Qasr-e-Shabir Imambargah. PHOTO: Express/Waseem Imran .KARACHI/PAKISTAN: Despite elaborate announcements of enhanced security, three terror attacks on two Imambargahs, in Karachi and later in Rawalpindi, on Wednesday claimed at least 12 lives – sending a wave of fear through the country regarding further attacks as Muharram crescendos over the weekend. Over two dozen people were injured in Wednesday’s attacks. Karachi witnessed a twin blast at Jamia Masjid-o-Imambargah Haider-o-Karrar in the Orangi Town neighbourhood. Two lives were lost, given that there was no congregation at the Imambargah at the time of the first or the second blast. Rawalpindi, however, was not as lucky. At least ten people were killed and over 15 injured when a suicide bomber struck a Muharram procession at Qasr-e-Shabir Imambargah on Dhok Seyadan road late Wednesday night. Rescue 1122 officials said the toll could increase as the number of critically injured was high. The blast occurred when the procession, consisting of hundreds of people, was gathered outside the Imambargah. Till the filing of this report, rescue activities were underway. The army was called to the site to assist police. Police officials claimed they recovered hand grenades from near the Imambargah. They also held some suspects from the site, they said. Like in Karachi, security in the twin cities was on high alert for the last 24 hours. Imambargahs and Muharram processions had been provided special police and Rangers’ security cover. In Karachi With Sunday’s blast that claimed three lives still fresh in the memories of Karachi’s residents, twin blasts near another Imambargah claimed at least two lives on Wednesday. This time around, the blasts targeted Jamia Masjid-o-Imambargah Haider-o-Karrar in the Orangi Town neighbourhood in spite of security measures in place around the site. No clear picture of events emerged by the time this report was filed and conflicting accounts kept coming in from different official quarters. Soon after the first blast, at 6:15pm, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Javed Odho maintained a rickshaw’s CNG cylinder had exploded. However, eyewitnesses claimed that a suicide bomber had collided with the rickshaw, 20 feet away from the Imambargah, and detonated his device. Later, reports ruled out the suicide bomber, but postulated that the explosive device had been planted on a motorcycle. About 40 minutes later, a second bomb went off, planted beside the main-gate of the Imambargah. BDS officials maintained they had carried out a routine search of the Imambargah the previous day. The search, however, failed to detect the presence of any explosives – even the bomb used in the second blast, which was planted next to the gate. Either the search was flawed, or the device was planted today. Earlier directives had also prohibited motorcycles within half a kilometer of any place of worship. The directives, however, were not enforced, despite a heavy Rangers presence in the area. Even the motorcycle repair shops, which dot the vicinity of the Imambargah, were open despite directives for them to be closed. Rangers officials at the site maintained they were focusing on a nearby Muharram procession. They added that directives regarding motorcycles and motorcycle shops had been relaxed since there was no congregation present at the Imambargah at the time. The first blast claimed at least two lives and injured three others. According to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital medico-legal officer Dr Zahoor Ahmad, the death toll could include one more life since some of the remains they received were unaccounted for. Ten people were injured in the second blast, including two journalists and two Shifa welfare volunteers. Dr Ahmad added that most were out of danger. Only three, he said, were seriously wounded. ============== Pakistanis gather at the site of a bombing near a Shia Muslim place of worship in Karachi on November 18, 2012. Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:12PM Related Viewpoints: Carnage of Shia Muslims in Pakistan At least 16 Shia Muslims have been killed and several others injured in a new bomb attack on a religious gathering near the Pakistani capital Islamabad, Press TV reports. The attack targeted a Shia procession commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) in the Dhoke Syedan area of the garrison town of Rawalpindi on Wednesday night. In the evening, a series of coordinated bomb attacks on several other Shia gatherings across the southern port city of Karachi left at least two people dead and several others severely injuring. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals. The death toll is reportedly expected to rise as some of the wounded are in critical condition. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but police officials put the blame on pro-Taliban militants who have carried out similar assaults in the past. Violence has escalated against Shia Muslims in different parts of Pakistan in recent months. Since the beginning of 2012, hundreds of Shias have been killed in various parts of the country. Pakistan's pro-Taliban militants have launched a violent campaign against Shia Muslims over the past years. According to local sources, militants affiliated to Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist groups have killed thousands of Shia Muslims in the region since the start of the campaign. The country's Shia leaders have called on the government to form a judicial commission to investigate the bloodshed. The killing of Shias in Pakistan has sparked international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the ongoing carnage. Still, those behind the violence are rarely caught or punished. . KARACHI: At least four people were killed and eleven sustained injuries in twin blasts that occurred in Orangi Town, Karachi, Express News reported on Wednesday. The second blast took place right next to the gate of an imambargah, while the first one occurred 50 feet away from the place. Some media and emergency rescue personnel were injured in the second blast along with security personnel. Police and Rangers pushed back the large crowd and media persons after the second blast erupted. They completely cordoned off the area and said the place will not be declared cleared until the Bomb Disposal Squad completely sweeps all the shops. The BDS said ball bearings were not used in the second blast and it was not as powerful as the first blast. Security officials expressed fear that more explosives could be planted in the area. Express News correspondent Nadeem Khan reported that BDS officials were busy collecting evidence from the first blast site and were not scanning the area for other bombs. SSP SIU Raja Umar Khattab said the police were investigating the first blast when the second bomb went off. He said it cannot be confirmed if the first blast was a suicide attack or not. He, however, said explosives for the second blast were planted in a cement block. DIG West Javed Odho said the first blast was carried out by a suicide bomber and killed a rickshaw driver and injured seven others. Odho said the police force is working across the city and the assigned deployments will remain in their locations. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, while speaking to Express News, said the government wants to prevent terrorists from reaching their targets and so far the criminals have failed to achieve their goals. He said three to four big attacks were planned but the security forces foiled the plans because of timely intelligence. Memon added that army will be on high alert for Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur on Muharran 9 and 10. First blast DIG West Odho said there was no congregation held at the imambargah when the first blast took place. He told The Express Tribune that the first blast occurred in a rickshaw. However, Express News correspondent Khan reported that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle. The reporter added that the motorcyclist crashed into a rickshaw and detonated the explosives. Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot to determine the nature of the first blast. Rescue officials shifted dead and injured to local hospitals, while police cordoned off the area after the first blast. According to initial details, the injured have ball bearings ripped into their bodies, while several body parts have been brought to the hospital as well. One of the injured is in critical condition and has been taken to operation theatre. On November 18, two people were killed and more than a dozen sustained injuries in an explosion near an imambargah in Abbas Town, Karachi. The explosives were planted on a motorcycle. This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly. ZEESHAN ABBAS‏@HANIMSGCLUB110 RAWALPINDI UPDATE: Dhok Syedan Qasr'E Shabir K Qareb Jaloos'E Aza Me Karwan'E Hussain Ki Sangat Pr Bomb Blast Hoa, 5 SHAHEED, Mutadid Zakhmi Followed by Shiite News and 1 other Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More 9mNews Group‏@SKPakistan RAWALPINDI: Dhok Syedan Qasr.E.Shabir K Qareb Jalos.E.Aza Me Karwan.E.Hussain Ki Sangat Pr Bomb Blast Hoa, 5 SHAHEED, Mutadid Zakhmi 11:55PM Followed by Payam Television 1 and 1 other Expand 9mCrimeNews‏@NewsMarkaz Rawalpindi: Dhok syedan mai imam bargh kay qareeb dhamka, 5 halak, 15 zakhmi abb tak ki itlah kay mutabiq.... Expand 11mPayam Television 1‏@PayamTv1 RAWALPINDI: Misriyal Road Dhok Syedan Qasr-e-Shabir K Qareeb Jaloos-e-Aza Me Khudkhush Dhamaka Mutadid Momineen Shaheed Jb K Mutadid Zakhmi Expand 11mAzadarSnews‏@AzadarSnews #Rawalpindi: Misriyal Road Dhok Syedan Qasr-e-Shabbir(asw)k qareeb Juloos-e-Aza me Blast. Mutadid Zakhmi, Labbaik ya hussain(asw) Expand 12mShianeAliForum_SMS‏@ShianeAliForum #Rawalpindi: Misryal Road Dhok Syedan Qasr-e Shabir Ke Qarib Julus Aza me Dhamaka, Mutadid Zakhmi Shahadatun Ka Khadsha #ShiaGenocide Followed by AMAFHH SMS Service and 3 others Expand 15mSada-e-Mazlomeen ‏@SMPakistan Rawalpindi: Misriyal Road Dhok Syedan Qasre Shabir k kareb Jaloos e Aza me Blast. Mutadid Zakhmi. Shahdtun ki Itla (Initial Report) Followed by isopakistan and 2 others Expand 17mHarisQadri‏@HarisQadri RawaLpindi ALert% Dhok Syedan K iLaqay Mai Qisr_e_ Shabbir Or Qisr_e_ Abu TaLib Imaam Baarray K Darmiyan Bomb Dhamaka 7 Shia Jahannum WasiL Expand 22mNaushad A Siddiqi‏@NaushadASiddiqi RT @Karachi_Times #Rawalpandi k elaqe Dhok Syedan K Qarib Dhamaka. Blast ImamBargah K Qarib Hoa, traffic Police Ahelkar Zakhmi. (SADDY)23:35 Followed by Rumaisa Mohani Expand 22mShiaRevolution Pak‏@ShiaRevolution Rawalpindi: Dhok Syedan Imam Bargah Blast k pass jalus par dhamaka mutadid zakhmi lights off h0gai Frist Info Expand 24mLiveNews01‏@LiveNews011 BREAKING NEWS Rawalpindi : Dhok syedan k aik imam bargah k qarib dhamaka kai traffic wardens samait 25 se ziada afrad zakhmi Expand 24mShahid‏@ShahidBhura Khi: Rawalpindi" Dhok Syedan me Imam bargah k qareb DHAMAKA. Kae Trafic Ahelkar zakhmi. Rescue teme rawana Expand 28mShia Alert Network!‏@ShiaAlert RAWALPINDI: Dhok Syedan K Muqam Per ImamBargah K Qareeb Zordar Dhamaka, Mutadid Zakhmi Followed by امامیہ سیل پاکستان and 4 others Expand 29mJaferia News Network‏@JNNsms AZADARI ALERT: Rawalpindi: Dhok Syedan Imam Bargah Blast ki Itla, Mutadid Zakhmi Followed by Hussaini Network and 2 others Expand 29mShiaKilling Alert‏@HMSALERT Rawalpindi: Dhok Syedan Imam Bargah Blast k pass dahmaka mutadid zakhmi Frist Info Expand 30mJaffariaNews‏@JaffariaNews Rawalpindi: misriyal road Dhok syedan mai imam bargah k qareeb dhamaka, Expand 31mSada-e-Mazlomeen ‏@SMPakistan Rawalpindi: Dhok Syedan Imam Bargah Blast ki Itla: Details coming soon #ShiaGenocide Expand 32mJaved‏@alzulfiquar Breaking news of a # Blast in Dhok Syedan, #Rawalpindi. #Geo Retweeted by akchishti Expand 16 NovSyed'Usman'Gillani‏@UsmanGillaaani @bhijab2012 oh bakra mandi and dhok syedan are very close . Our reletive are there View conversation 16 NovSyed'Usman'Gillani‏@UsmanGillaaani @bhijab2012 hahaha waoo u r very close to us. You know dhok syedan? And dhok ratta?