Nico Hines, and Zahid Hussain for The Times, in Islamabad
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More than 50 people were killed today in the second suicide bomb attack this year targeting the interior minister of President Musharraf’s recently dissolved government.
Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao had joined up to 800 worshippers in a mosque within his own compound in northwest Pakistan. They were celebrating the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha.
The suspected bomber, sitting in a middle row among the worshippers, detonated his bomb as prayers ended and people gathered around the politician to greet him. One of Mr Sherpao’s sons was injured when a the bomb, packed with ball bearings and nails, exploded.
The former interior minister was seen as one of the key figures in the war against the Islamist militants based in the northwest frontier provinces. Mr Sherpao controlled the country’s paramilitary forces and was an outspoken public face of the government’s fight against Islamist militancy.
Militants have pledged to target everyone involved in attempting to subdue the violence near the border with Afghanistan.
Mr Sherpao is one of the most influential politicians in that northwest region where he lives in a village named after his family. He was a member of Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party but recently formed his own pro-Musharraf faction of the party and will stand in upcoming elections.
The latest suicide attack raises questions over whether it will be possible for elections to be held in safety on January 8 next year. President Musharraf, a key ally in the United States-led war on terrorism, cited growing militancy as a main reason behind his imposition of emergency rule in November.
“We feel that Sherpao was the target. There are so many mosques in that area. Why did the bomber select that mosque for the attack?” Syed Kamal Shah, Federal Secretary of Interior, told the Reuters news agency.
Mr Sherpao had been injured in April in another suicide attack at a public meeting in Charsadda. Today's attack took place in Sherpao, 25 miles northeast of the city of Peshawar.
There have been a series of suicide attacks blamed on Islamist militants since a military assault on the Red Mosque, a militant stronghold, in Islamabad in July.
More than 800 people have been killed in the ensuing violence across the country, with about half of them killed in suicide attacks.
President Musharraf, who claimed he had “broken the back” of the militancy as he lifted emergency rule last weekend, has condemned today’s attack.
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To Ifthikar, if pakistan as a nation was able to sort out its own problems then we wouldnt have a generation that has failed to be educated and a second generation about to be lost in the same manner. Stop blaming the USA and start blaming the hate mongers that are sending your fellow pakistani's muslims to kill your fellow pakistani muslims. Its only when you wake up and face this evil pervertion of Islam that pakistan can propser.
Wasim , Edin, Scotland
Reap what you sow! It has become a bumper crop!
Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India
Reap what you sow! Recently it has been bumper crops in Pakistan!
Regards,
Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India
This boming spoilt my Eid celebrations. I was planning a joyous day but as I heard this sad news, it ruined my day. I suspect this and other bombings as a plot to cause trouble in Pakistan. I believe that Americans are behind this somehow. US dont want to see nuclear armed Pakistan live peacefully. I think they are going to lose Pakistani people's hearts and mind, if they dont stop interferring in our affairs. Nobody really loves America in Pakistan. Only few rich people that are backed by Washington see Us as a friends. Most people do not trust US meddling in our affairs. Lets Pakistanis sort their own problems.
Iftikhar, Manchester, UK
I'm sure in their backward brains, this is America's fault.
Jeff, Sacramento / CA, USA
While Islamist warriors are on the rampage,the military dictatorship led by Musharraf is crushing the educated,progressive,secular sections of the Pakistani society.The superior courts have been purged of about 60 independently minded judges,the sacked Chief justice is not allowed outside his completely isolated house even to say his Eid prayers,leaders of the legal fraternity demanding rule of the law are incarcerated,brutal force is used against defenceless men and women who demand restoration of the independent judiciary,day after day,in every city of the country and the electronic media has been completely throttled.These atrocities are being perpetrated by a tyrant who according to Mr. Bush is committed to democracy and is a man of his word.
Western governments and intelligentia should chose the establishment of genuine democracy,independent judiciary and the rule of the law over manipulation of the electoral process by Musharraf,in theinterest of regional peace and harmony.
Afzal A. Neseem, Lincoln, Nebraska
Where are the worldwide cries of abomination against this act. To kill 50 worshipers at prayer on probably the holiest day in the Islamic calendar and not a peep from the worldwide muslim community - I am disgusted, are you suggesting that it is ok to kill a muslim if you are a muslim, or by your silence are you condoning sucide bombings. Our silence gives legitimacy to suicide bombings, if this wasn't the case then there wouldn't be ready volunteers for these godfathers of death. Our silence disgusts me.
Wasim , Edinb, Scotland
Where are the alleged Islamic moderates. Their silence is deafening. Oh wait. There are none.
Bruce L. Northwood, Silver Spring, USA
All path that guides to the anger, is not good for no one. The better manner for understanding is the dialogue, this simple word these radical do not comprehend. The life for these people has not no value. higher level of misery conducts this situation. Like it says in my country all form of power is a shape of dieing for nothing.
Edmilson Nunes, Salvador, Brazil
If a teddy bear and Danish cartoons provoke worldwide riots at around 8.5 on an intensity scale of 1 to 10 of insult to Islam, where does detonating a bomb in a mosque sit on the same scale? And, for that matter, what about the recent insult to Islam when Rashid Rauf used a mosque as an escape tunnel? Where are the worldwide protests at these acts of disrespect to Islam?
Benji, London,
still a none safe area
Liguobin, China, Hunan