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30 killed in blast at Pak MP’s house
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ASIANAGE on 06 October, 2008 03:15:43
 
BY SHAFQAT ALI with agency inputs
Islamabad
Oct. 6: At least 30 people died and over 100 were injured when a suicide bomber
blew himself up at Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Rashid Akbar Nawani’s
residence in the Bhakkar district.
Mr Nawani was meeting the people of his constituency for Id greetings, when the
blast occurred injuring him and killing over 30.
Though special security arrangements were made at the legislator’s residence,
the bomber managed to sneak inside and detonate his explosives, police officials
said.
Soon after the blast, Mr Nawani, a member of Parliament, was taken to hospital
where he is stated to be in a critical state.
"Several injured are in critical state. We can only hope that the toll will not
rise", said a doctor. He said the DNA test of the suicide attacker will be
conducted.
According to the eyewitnesses, at least 30 people injured in blasts were in
critical conditions. Parts of human bodies were seen scattered in three rooms of
the house and in open areas outside.
The officials of interior ministry said the body parts of the suicide bomber
have been found, adding that the preliminary report has been presented to the
advisor to the Prime Minister on interior. Mr Nawani’s residence was sealed
off by policemen and investigators scoured the site of the blast for clues.
Police officials said the bomber’s jacket, with an Afghan currency note inside
it, had been recovered.
Mr Nawani is a Shia and reports suggested that the attack might have been
carried out by rival sectarian groups.
An interior ministry official said they had already informed the provinces
about the imminent threat of suicide attacks. President Asif Ali Zardari and
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the blast and directed the home
minister to quickly initiate the probe into the blast.
The Prime Minister announced Rs 0.3 million for the families of those who died
and Rs 0.1 million for the injured.
The attack on the legislators comes even as suspected Taliban militants fired
rockets at the house of North West Frontier Province chief minister Amir Haider
Hoti in his hometown Mardan. Mr Hoti, however, escaped as he was in Peshawar at
the time of attack.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, some additional pickets have been set up in various
important points of the capital under new security plan. A senior police
official said that security has been tightened further in and around the red
zone.
In September, a suicide blast in Islamabad killed 60 and injured scores of
others. Suicide attacks have grown since the government decided to launch a
military operation against the pro-Taliban militants in the lawless tribal
areas.