Bomb Explodes at Sufi Shrine in Pakistan

Bomb Explodes at Sufi Shrine in Pakistan
By VOA News 05 March 2009

A corner of the mausoleum of Sufi poet Rehman Baba damaged after an explosion in Peshawar, 05 Mar 2009

Suspected Islamist militants in Pakistan have bombed the mausoleum of a 17th century poet revered in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

People regularly visit the marble shrine on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar to pay respects to Rehman Baba, a renowned ethnic Pashtun poet.

The blast damaged the structure of the shrine but there were no reports of injuries.

Days ahead of the attack, hardline Islamic militants had warned women against visiting the shrine. Muslim extremists such as the Taliban oppose men and women mingling together unless they are married or close relatives.

In another attack Thursday, one person died and at least 15 others were injured when a grenade was hurled during evening prayers at a mosque in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan.

Militant attacks have plagued Pakistan in recent years, especially in the Pashtun-dominated northwest.

Three terrorism attempts foiled

PESHAWAR/DI KHAN/ QUETTA: Law enforcement agencies on Sunday foiled three separate terrorism attempts, including two attempted bombings, in various parts of the country.

Peshawar police seized 10 kilogrammes of explosives packed with 400 ball bearings from a car on PAF Road and arrested two suspects. According to APP, the trigger mechanism was remote-controlled with a cell phone. Further investigation is underway to determine the intended target of the bombing.

Separately, Dera Ismail Khan city police defused a homemade 15kg bomb. The police, with the aid of the army and a bomb disposal squad, were responding to reports of a suspicious bag found near CRBC Chowk. DI Khan District Police Officer Iqbal Khan told Online the bomb was planted along the route of an army convoy.

Also on Sunday, Frontier Corps (FC) recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition and arrested seven people in Rakhani. The FC, on a tip-off, raided a house in Rakhani and recovered seven rifles, four sub-machine guns, two pistols, and 545 rounds of ammunition, Online reported.

Separately, unidentified men fired four rockets in Sui, however no casualties were reported. In another incident, a bomb blast occurred near a security forces camp in Khuzdar. While no casualties were reported, security forces injured two people during retaliatory fire. agencies

Police station attacked in Islamabad
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:08:29 GMT

A suicide bomb blast has rocked a police station in Islamabad and marred celebrations for the 69th anniversary of Pakistan’s Republic Day.

A Press TV correspondent on the ground in Pakistan has learned that the late Monday blast killed one policeman and two civilians.

Reports put those injured up to three.

The bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a special police branch office used by police intelligence and bomb disposal units close to the Sitara market in the center of Islamabad.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The number of the casualties is expected to rise. Police officers have cordoned off the area and rescue operations are underway.

Violence in Pakistan has surged in recent months amid a wave of attacks attributed to the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.

A week ago, 14 people were killed when a suicide bomber struck a bus depot on the outskirts of the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi.

RZS/AA