Islamabad, July 4
In one of the worst attacks on Pakistan’s Shiite minority, at least 44 worshippers were killed and over 30 injured today when suspected Sunni extremists exploded a powerful bomb and fired indiscriminately in a mosque during Friday prayers, sparking off riots that forced the government to clamp curfew and call in the army in the north-western city of Quetta.The army has been called to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order in the north-west Baluchistan province city after riots broke out, reports reaching here said.
Dozens of people are still being treated for serious wounds sustained in the bomb explosion and the subsequent indiscriminate firing from three armed assailants, the reports said.
Over 200 persons, mostly belonging the Hazra community of the Shia sect, took part in the Friday congregation.
Officials said three suspected militants who carried out the attack first exploded a bomb and later fired bullets from automatic weapons. The three were later reportedly killed by the police.
This is the second attack on the Hazra community in the recent weeks. A few weeks ago, unknown gunmen had killed 12 police recruits of the community while they were going to a police training centre.
The police believes that the attacks were being carried out by banned Sunni extremist outfit, Sipha-e-Sebha, but no one has claimed the responsibility so far.
The government has banned both Sunni and Shia extremist organisations in 2001 to stop the growing sectarian violence in the country in which hundreds were killed.
Earlier, official APP news agency quoted District Nazim Mohammad Rahim Kakkar as saying that the incident at a mosque was reportedly a suicide attack. He said three of the attackers died on the spot, while the fourth was injured and arrested.
He also said indefinite curfew had been imposed in the city.
Senior
Superintendent of Police Rehmatullah Khan Niazi, however, said one of the attackers was killed in crossfire with the police.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is in Paris on the last leg of his four nation tour, condemned the attack and said it was aimed at destabilising the country. He told the media that majority of the Pakistanis abhorred such violent acts and blamed a small minority for attempting to hold the country to
ransom. — PTI
