Assassination Attempt on Benazir Bhutto, Two Suicide Car Bombs Kill 90, Targeting her Convoy in Karachi

ccun.org, October 18, 2007, 3:40 pm ET

Arabic TV stations reported that Benazir Bhutto's convoy from the Karachi airport was attacked by two suicide car bombs, moments ago. More than 90 people were killed, hundreds were injured in the apparent attempt to assassinate the former Pakistani prime minister who returned from exile today.

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AP: 51 Die in Blasts Near Bhutto in Karachi

By PAISLEY DODDS Associated Press Writer

Oct 18, 2007, 4:41 PM EDT

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) --

Two bombs went off Thursday night near a truck carrying former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her triumphant return to Pakistan after eight years in exile, killing at least 51 people and wounding 150, an official said. Party workers and police said Bhutto was unhurt.

Associated Press photographer B.K. Bangash at the scene said he saw between 50 and 60 dead or badly injured people. He said some of the bodies were ripped apart.

An initial small explosion was followed by a huge blast just feet from the front of the truck carrying Bhutto during a procession through Karachi. The blast shattered windows in her vehicle and set a police escort vehicle on fire.

Those traveling atop the truck with Bhutto climbed down, with one man jumping off while others climbed down. Bhutto's lawyer, Sen. Babar Awan, said that the former premier was safe.

Police Chief Azhar Farooqi told Dawn News that Bhutto was rushed from the area under contingency plans.

"She was evacuated very safely and is now in Bilawal House," Farooqi said, referring to Bhutto's residence in Karachi.

Officials at four hospitals in Karachi reported a total of 51 dead and 150 wounded.

Dr. Seemi Jamali of Jinnah Hospital said it had 19 dead from the blast, and of the 70 wounded, between 20 and 25 were in critical condition.

A man who identified himself only as Dr. Faisal of Liaqat National Hospital, reported 30 killed and 80 wounded, many critically.

Provincial Home Secretary Ghulam Mohammed Mohtaram said the main force of the blast appeared to be taken by the police vehicle.

Footage from the scene of the blasts showed bodies on the ground, lying motionless, under a mural that read "Long Live Bhutto."

Men grabbed several stretchers with injured people from ambulances and rushed them into what appeared to be a hospital emergency room, while others carried the wounded in their arms. Many of the wounded were covered in blood, and some had their clothes ripped off.

Pools of blood, broken glass, tires and bits of clothing littered the ground near where the bombs went off. Stretchers were lined up in what seemed to be an entryway to a hospital, and medical personnel began to tend to the injured while dozens of people walked through in a daze.

Men at the scene moved the injured away from the fires near the blast site. One bystander came upon a body, checked for signs of life, and moved on, presumably to find more who could be saved.

Several motorcycles also lay on their sides. Flames burned in the center of the street.

After the blasts, pickup trucks filled with men rushed away from the scene and others began to run, but many more stayed and milled in between the police vehicle and those of the procession.

Cars halted in the road, people climbing on car roofs to try to catch a glimpse of the fire behind them.

More than 150,000 jubilant supporters had surrounded the convoy carrying Bhutto amid massive security in Karachi.

Authorities had urged her to travel in Karachi by helicopter to reduce the risk of attack. But Bhutto, hated by radical Islamists because she supports the U.S.-led war on terrorism, brushed off the concerns.

"I am not scared. I am thinking of my mission," she had told reporters on the plane. "This is a movement for democracy because we are under threat from extremists and militants."

Bhutto recently courted controversy in Pakistan by saying that she would cooperate with the American military in targeting Osama bin Laden, and authorities warned that Islamic militants could launch suicide attacks and roadside bombings against her.

Asked about such threats on Wednesday in Dubai, Bhutto said Islam forbids suicide bombings and attacks on her. "Muslims know if they attack a woman they will burn in hell," she said.

The government of Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, had appealed to Bhutto to abandon plans for a snail-paced grand procession through Karachi, saying it would leave her vulnerable. The government said the main threat was from Taliban and al-Qaida.

President orders speedy efforts to get troops released

Dawn, October 18, 2007 Thursday Shawwal 5, 1428

By Ahmad Hassan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17:

President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to speed up efforts to get the soldiers kidnapped by militants safely freed.

The president was presiding over a high-level meeting in the Aiwan-i-Sadar to review the security situation in Fata and troubled areas in the NWFP. According to informed sources, newly-appointed Vice Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani briefed the meeting about ongoing talks with local Taliban militants.

Gen Kayani visited the front-line army positions in North Waziristan agency on Tuesday.

The sources said that the president expressed deep concern over growing strength of Taliban in tribal areas and the kidnapping of armed personnel. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, NWFP caretaker chief minister Shamsul Mulk, interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and other high-ranking officials.

According to an official handout, President Musharraf told the meeting that the government was working for fast-track socio-economic development in the NWFP and Fata to provide relief to people. The president said that most of the people in the NWFP and Fata were moderate and they wanted peace and progress in their areas.

Special squad to cover arrival: PPP seeks chopper for taking Benazir to mausoleum

Dawn, October 18, 2007 Thursday Shawwal 5, 1428

By Syed Irfan Raza

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17:

The government will provide a special security squad to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who has received threats from militant commander Baitullah Mehsud.

“The security squad headed by senior police official Maj (retd) Imtiaz will be provided to Ms Bhutto on her arrival in Karachi on Thursday,” Interior Ministry Spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said here on Wednesday.

Sources said Maj Imtiaz had served in top positions in the police department during the tenures of the PPP government.

Brig Cheema said Pakistan People’s Party chairperson had been threatened by the militant commander that she would be attacked on her return to the country.

The government would provide foolproof security to Ms Bhutto in view of the threat, he said. She had also been allowed to use bullet-proof cars, he added.

Sources in the interior ministry said two bullet-proof cars had already reached the airport. They said the PPP had also demanded a helicopter for Ms Bhutto’s journey from the airport to the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam.

The interior ministry spokesman said the Sindh government had been directed to take adequate security measures.

When asked if Ms Bhutto could be arrested on her arrival, the spokesman said: “She would be treated within the ambit of National Reconciliation Ordinance”.

Talking to Dawn about criminal cases registered against Mr Asif Ali Zardari and the ‘Oil for food’ case against the PPP chairperson which is not covered by the NRO because it was registered after 1999, Brig Cheema said Ms Bhutto’s spouse was on bail in all the criminal cases.

Former Pakistani PM arrives in Karachi

www.chinaview.cn 2007-10-18 17:16:26 Print

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto prays as she arrives in Karachi, Oct. 18, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrived in the southern port city of Karachi Thursday afternoon by plane.

The plane landed at about 13:45 local time (08:45 GMT) at the Karachi international airport.

Bhutto, after eight years of self-imposed exile, walked out of the plane with smiles, according to local TV reports.

The plane's departure was delayed at the Dubai airport for two times due to extraordinary security arrangements of the flight and changing of seats by passengers.

Before departure, Bhutto told the media at the Dubai airport that her returning home was "a miracle".

"My life and everything is dedicated to Pakistan and I thank the millions of people coming from each and every nook and corner of the country," she said. "I am the leader of the poor and I will live with them and die with them."

Benazir said that her welcome would be greater than the welcome in 1986 and those who have come for welcoming her wanted the end of dearness and unemployment.

However, Federal Railway Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad said that the political graph of Bhutto had been declined and that she should not expect welcome like 1986.

Talking to a local TV, Rashid said that things had been changed and the current situation of the country was different from what was in 1986. "Benazir's graph has been dropped and very few people left for Karachi from Rawalpindi to welcome Benazir Bhutto," he said.

Thousands of local leaders and workers of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians traveled in more than 2,000 cars, jeeps, wagons, buses and coaches for Karachi Wednesday afternoon to accord warm welcome to Benazir Bhutto there.

According to the schedule, with a special permission from the government, Bhutto will be taken in an imported bullet proof vehicle from the airport to the Pakistan's founder Jinnah's Mausoleum with a procession.

Security is tight in Karachi with helicopters and police on guard.

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