Bomb outside bank kills 30 near Pakistani capital

[Turborama]

Source: AP

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – A suicide bomber killed 30 people outside a bank near Pakistan's capital Monday, as the U.N. said spreading violence had forced it to pull out some expatriate staff and suspend long-term development work in areas along the Afghan border.

=snip=

Monday's attack in Rawalpindi, a garrison city just a few miles (kilometers) from Islamabad, occurred as many people waited outside the National Bank on pay day to could collect their salaries.

The bank is close to the army's headquarters, and a majority of the people waiting in line were from the military, said Mohammad Mushtaq, a soldier wounded in the attack. Militants raided the headquarters last month in a siege that lasted 22 hours and left 23 people dead.

=snip=

The attacker rode a motorbike to the scene, and the 30 people killed included military personnel, Rawalpindi police chief Rao Iqbal said. Some 45 others were wounded.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091102/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

---

This is an update of http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4128691">this thread, details were sketchy until now.

[bemildred]

1. Pakistan posts massive rewards for Taliban leaders

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Monday offered rewards worth five million dollars for information leading to the capture, dead or alive, of the country's Taliban warlord Hakimullah Mehsud and 18 lieutenants.

The rewards for top-ranking Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were offered in a black-and-white government advertisement on the front page of The News daily and flashed on Pakistani television channels overnight.

Mehsud, who took on the leadership mantle after a US drone attack killed his predecessor Baitullah Mehsud in August, headed the list with 50 million Pakistan rupees (600,240 dollars) slapped on his head.

TTP has been blamed for some of the worst attacks in Pakistan, which have killed around 2,400 people in a deadly wave of carnage over the past two years.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hk_YG0G2TW8hz4r7DKC_p-umDcyA

[Turborama]

2. Police: Blast near Pakistan army headquarters

Source: AP

Police say an explosion has occurred near the army's headquarters in Pakistan's Rawalpindi city.

There was no immediate word on casualties in the explosion Monday. Rawalpindi is just a few miles (kilometers) away from the capital, Islamabad.

Police official Abdul Qayum says the blast occurred at the Shalimar Intersection.

Suspected militants have struck Pakistan several times in recent weeks, killing about 250 people in apparent retaliation for an army offensive in a Taliban stronghold in the northwest.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091102/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_29

---

UPDATE

Deadly blast rocks Pakistani city

Source: Al Jazeera English

At least 15 people are killed and several others wounded, after an explosion struck a busy road near a hotel in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad.

Local television footage showed ambulances and rescue workers at the scene of Monday's blast.

The blast occurred close to Pakistan's army headquarters, near the Pearl Continental hotel, where 10 attackers mounted a nearly 24-hour siege last month.

"There was a blast on Mall Road in Rawalpindi. We are trying to get details from our people on the ground. Casualties are feared," Mohammed Akhlaq, a police officer, told the AFP news agency.

"It was a huge blast. I saw smoke rising from one of the buildings. I sped up to escape," Sajid Khan, a witness, said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/11/200911255719283429.html

[maddezmom]

3. Massive blast rocks Rawalpindi hotel (Pakistan)

Source: samaylive.com

Published by: Amit Tiwari
Published: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 at 10:29 IST Click Image to Enlarge

Rawalpindi: A massive explosion rocked the posh mall road locality of Rawalpindi today.

According to the sources, the huge explosion took place at Shalimar Hotel around 10.40 am today.

The Shalimar hotel is situated near the Five Star Pearl Continental hotel and cantonment area.

No confirmation regarding causalities has been received so far. Meanwhile, the security forces have cordoned off the entire area.

Eyewitness said that the hotel building has been badly damaged in the massive blast which is belived to be another suicide attack.


Read more: http://www.samaylive.com/news/massive-blast-rocks-rawalpindi-hotel/665572.html

[maddezmom]

4. Dozens dead in Pakistan explosion, police say

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- An explosion ripped through a commercial area of Rawalpindi Monday, killing at least 25 people.

The blast, in the Cannt area of the city, wounded more than 30 others, said Rawalpindi police Superintendent Ishtiaq Shah.

It took place as people lined up to collect their monthly salary, he said.

Rawalpindi, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the capital city of Islamabad, is a closely guarded city that is home to the country's military headquarters.

The Cannt area is short for cantonment, so called because of its proximity to the military offices. It is home to several travel agencies and mid-range hotels.

more:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/02/pakistan.explosion/

[cosmicone]

5. "Suspected militants" have struck Pakistan?

Why suspected? Is anyone but terrorists capable of this? Could they have been Maryknoll nuns? Jesuits? Buddhist monks? Philosophy professors?

The media sugarcoating who these people are is one of the reasons for the general public's laissez-faire attitude.

Why not call them "terrorists" or "criminals" instead of "militants" or "extremists?"

One reason might be that calling them criminals would make the Pakistani government criminal because the latter arms, funds and trains terrorists and uses terrorism as official state policy.

[samsingh]

6. pakistan craddled extremists for so long and used them against India