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Toll in Karachi blasts mounts to 139
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Zardari blames IB
Advani calls up Bhutto
Dev Anand gets Punjab Ratan award
Pak denies Dawood’s detention
Bush imposes new sanctions on Myanmar
Patel Case
Jury sees receipt for Dodi’s ‘engagement ring’ for Di
31 dead as Indonesian ferry sinks
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Toll in Karachi blasts mounts to 139
Karachi, October 19 The bomber struck just 10 to 15 ft away from the especially refurbished armoured truck in which 54-year-old Bhutto was travelling along with close aides as the procession, which was moving towards the tomb of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, reached the Karsaz area of this port city at about midnight. A grenade exploded seconds before the suicide bomber struck ripping through a police van in front of Bhutto’s truck, which was also damaged, killing mostly supporters of Pakistan People’s Party leader who had thronged the streets in hundreds and thousands to greet her. Bhutto, who was on her way to Jinnah mausoleum after arriving in Pakistan following eight years in self-exile, had climbed down into the truck after waving to the crowds when the attack took place. She was immediately rescued and whisked away to her residence, Bilawal House, by security personnel and PPP workers, as people ran helter-skelter fearing for their lives. “Bhutto is safe and was taken to her home here,” PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan said Bhutto was the “prime target” but she was safe because of the security. It was a suicide attack, railway minister Sheikh Rashid said. Khan put the death toll at 139 and said 266 of the injured were being treated in various hospitals while 160 others with minor injuries had been released after first aid. However, local media said over 500 people were injured in the twin blasts. “It is the biggest toll we have in this terrorist attacks.... Law and order enforcement agencies are on high alert throughout the province and we are keeping a watch on the situation,” the Governor said. “It was an act of terrorism targeting Benazir Bhutto and aimed at sabotaging the democratic process,” interior minister Aftab Sherpao said. The police said the bomber was carrying about 10 to 15 kg of explosives. Moving amid pools of blood, shattered glass and charred tyres and vehicles, people carried the injured on their shoulders to the nearest vehicle to transport them to hospitals which struggled to attend to the rush. Heaps of footwear and debris of destroyed vehicles lay scattered at the blasts site today where Bhutto’s badly burnt vehicle bore a grim reminder of the ferocity of the attack. The roads, which were choked with some 2.5 lakh PPP workers, emptied rapidly after the explosions. The mood on the streets swiftly turned to anger, with many chanting anti-government slogans. Angry protesters tried to set afire a petrol pump during a protest. The government of Sindh province said all educational institutions in Karachi and Larkana, Bhutto’s hometown, would remain closed today. City police chief Azhar Farooqi said “necessary measures” were adopted to protect Bhutto but the blasts occurred despite these precautions. “We had a contingency plan to evacuate the VIP. That was put into action immediately and she was taken to Bilawal House,” the police chief said, addinga special team will probe the attack. Bhutto, who held a meeting with senior PPP leaders, demanded the sacking of the chief of Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau for failing to prevent the attack. The former premier was unfazed by these threats and had said she believed no “true Muslim” would attack a woman. Bhutto, whose comments about cooperating with the US to tackle terrorism in Pakistan have angered militants, said she wanted to “isolate extremism”. As Bhutto’s motorcade made its way from Jinnah International Airport, where she had arrived in an Emirates flight from Dubai yesterday, to the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, it took nine hours to cover a distance of about 7 km. At one point, it covered just 1 km in over three hours due to the large number of people crowding the roads. A rally that was to be addressed by Bhutto at the mausoleum was cancelled after the attack. Senior government officials held a meeting in Islamabad to review Bhutto’s security and advised the PPP to ask her to restrict her movements and public engagements. —
PTI Eyewitness Account
After the blast there were a lot of people scattering everywhere. I couldn't understand what happened. My
brothers and my family were injured. I took five or six bodies to the ambulances. But there were still more people lying on the ground and there were bloody pieces of body on the ground
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Global condemnation
I think that all political forces would act together to strengthen national unity. —
United Nations Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. There is no political cause that can justify the murder of innocent people. —
US State Depatment Al-Qaida could have targeted Bhutto because of her support for the US war on terror. —
Australian Prime Minister John Howard This was a vile crime and one more tragic confirmation of the need for further unity among the world community in the fight against international terrorism and extremism. —
Russian President Vladimir Putin Japan will continue to fight against terrorism in cooperation with the international community. —
Japan foreign ministry spokesman This proves that once again Afghanistan and Pakistan and our international friends must focus the strongest attention in the war against terrorism. —
Afghan President Hamid Karzai We convey heartfelt sympathy to the families of the bereaved and pray for the early recovery of the injured. —
Bangladesh foreign office spokesman
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Zardari blames IB
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's spouse Asif Zardari has blamed an intelligence agency for the blasts. In earlier statements Bhutto had named chief of civil Intelligence Bureau (OB) Brig. Ejaz Shah who is believed to be very close PPP 's inveterate enemy and Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.
Gen. Zia's son and religious affairs minister Ejazul Haq reacted sharply. He said Bhutto had outraged Pakistani people by her provocative statements on Lal Masjid tragedy, nuclear scientist Dr A.Q Khan and American military intervention in Waziristan that outraged sensibilities of common people and might have induced extremist elements to attempt suicide attack against her. President Musharraf called Bhutto on telephone and urged a consensus among moderate political parties to combat extremism and terrorism. He promised stringent action against those found responsible for the attack. Former Punjab governor Mustafa Khar said the blasts were a warning to Bhutto to discontinue populist politics and accept the new order which will be dominated by Musharraf's henchmen while her PPP would play a secondary role. He urged her to return to the people and rejoin mainstream opposition. Ruling party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said he has advised the PM to ban rallies and work with opposition parties to evolve a code of conduct during elections.
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Advani calls up Bhutto
New Delhi, October 19 Advani had a brief conversation with Bhutto, who narrowly survived the worst-ever terror strike in Pakistan last night, and wished her well and success in life. He also conveyed his condemnation of the deadly attack and expressed relief that she has been saved. On her part, Bhutto invited the senior BJP leader to visit Pakistan as she was not in the country when he visited last. Earlier, in a statement here, Advani expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan in the battle against terrorism and for democracy and said he was aghast at the news of the terror attack on Bhutto. Last night’s shocking incident in Karachi leaves no doubt whatsoever that the battle for democracy and the battle against terrorism are inter-related, he said.
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Dev Anand gets Punjab Ratan award
London, October 19 Describing him as “one of the greatest stars” of Bollywood, Lord Navnit Dholakia, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords presented the award to the octogenarian actor at a glittering ceremony here last night. Holding the trophy close to his chest, Dev Anand who was born at Gurdaspur in Punjab said, “It will be there closest to my heart.” NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, MP and former minister Keith Vaz, NRI MP Sailesh Vara and Kartar Lalvani, chief of Vitabiotics were among the other distinguished guests present on the occasion. Dev Anand, who was here to launch his autobiography ‘Romancing with Life’, said, “The whole country is proud of you Punjabis. Keep it up.” R S Baxi, President of the World Punjabi Organisation, European Division, said the organisation had donated £ 2,500 to the University of East London for providing scholarship to Indian students and another £ 500 for the purchase of books. The fund will support three postgraduate students from India to study in the University this year. Dev Anand won the best actor Filmfare award for ‘Kala Pani’ in 1958 and ‘Guide’ in 1966 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. He had also won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award for cinematic excellence in 2002. The next year, he received the special “Lifetime Achievement Award” for “Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema” at IIFA in Johannesburg. — PTI
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Pak denies Dawood’s detention
New Delhi, October 19 In communication to the Interpol India (CBI) last week, the Interpol Pakistan has stated, “Apprehension of Dawood Ibrahim (subject of Interpol red corner notice a-135/4/93) and his presence in Pakistan has not been substantiated.”
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Bush imposes new sanctions on Myanmar Washington, October 19 Bush ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the financial assets of additional members of the junta. He also acted to tighten controls on US exports to Myanmar and urged the governments of China and India to do more to pressure the government of the southeast Asian nation. “Monks have been beaten and killed. Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have been arrested,” Bush said in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. “Burma’s rulers continue to defy the world’s just demands to stop their persecution,” he said. — AP
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Patel Case
Melbourne, October 19 The Queensland police released further correspondence from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Leanne Clare that concluded there was no reasonable prospect of convicting the former director of medical services, at Bundaberg hospital, Darren Keating Keating was accused of supplying misleading information to the Medical Board of Queensland for renewal of registration for Patel as a medical practitioner. "Given this advice from DPP and considering the material from the investigators, including both internal and independent legal opinions, the service reaffirms its decision not to prosecute Keating for any offence against the Criminal Code," the police said. However, a review completed in June by former Crime and Misconduct Commission chairman Brendan Butler also backed the decision of not prosecuting Keating. Indian-trained doctor Patel was the director of surgery until April 1, 2005, when he fled to the US. He has been linked to the deaths of at least 17 patients and is facing extradition to Australia on the charges, including manslaughter and fraud. Meanwhile, the police and corrective services spokesman Rob Messenger said the decision was bad news for Patel's patients and Queensland justice. "I think it's just very convenient for this government that no-one's been held accountable, no-one's ended up in the witness stand having to tell the truth of what really happened at the Bundaberg Base Hospital," he said, according to the local media reports here. — PTI
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S. African reggae star shot
Johannesburg, October 19 Dube (43) was killed in an apparent carjacking attempt on Thursday evening, and the police was still searching for three suspects, police spokesman Eugene Opperman said. “They allegedly tried to take his vehicle, but then shots were fired and he was fatally wounded,” Opperman said. The murder of South Africa’s biggest-selling reggae singer cast a pall over the national mood a day before the country’s rugby union team faces England in the final of the World Cup. Dube recorded more than 20 albums in his career and won over 20 awards locally and internationally. His first album, released in 1984 titled ‘Rastas Never Die’ was banned by the country’s apartheid government. According to Dube’s website, the singer had just completed a month-long tour of the US. He performed across the world and shared the stage with music stars such as Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting. — Reuters
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Jury sees receipt for Dodi’s ‘engagement ring’ for Di
London, October 19 Jurors at the inquest were also shown a receipt for the 11,600-pounds diamond-encrusted “engagement ring” which Dodi had purchased from an Italian jewellery showroom in the French capital only six hours before the tragedy in the Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997. The ring, along with the receipt with the words “bague fiancaille”-meaning “engagement ring” in French, was found by investigators in Dodi’s flat. The jury also saw a CCTV footage, compiled by the British Police, showing Diana’s lover examining jewellery at the exclusive Repossi showroom even after it had closed for the public on the evening of August 30, 1997. Earlier this month, the jewellery store owner Alberto Repossi had claimed that he was the only witness to the fact that Diana and Dodi were planning to get married.—
PTI
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31 dead as Indonesian ferry sinks
Jakarta, October 19 Residents near the town of Bau Bau on south-east Sulawesi heard survivors screaming for help after the Acita 03 capsized at about nine pm yesterday, the ElShinta radio reported. The 22-metre long boat sank several miles from shore when passengers clambered to the roof seeking a stronger cell signal to make mobile phone calls, transport ministry official Djoni Algamar said. "The ship lost its balance and capsized," he told AFP. Though only 60 names had been on the ship's manifest, Indonesian ferries frequently carry far more passengers than the number officially registered. ElShinta's reporter said 151 people were believed to be on board, while the mayor of Bau Bau, Amirul Tamim, told the radio station that 188 people were on the ferry and several dozen thought to be missing. Thirty bodies were in the morgue at Bau Bau general hospital and 19 survivors were being treated for shock, the officials told AFP. One body remained stuck in the boat because the vessel's fuel drums had polluted the area, making it hard to get inside, said Kasman, head of the hospital's emergency department. A hospitalised survivor Safruddin told ElShinta that he had been travelling from his home village to work on Sulawesi after the one-week holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. —AFP
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