KABUL: At least two people were killed and five injured in a suicide bomb explosion in an upscale Kabul neighbourhood Saturday evening.
Security officials said the blast occurred in an Internet café opposite the First Microfinance Bank in Shahr-i-Naw at about 5:50pm. Fortunately, there was no usual rush of visitors because of incessant rains here, they added.
Interior Ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said: “Yes, there were two fatalities in the blast that left five people wounded.” But police said six people had been injured.
Mashal said the explosion near Ansari Square was initially linked to a cylinder burst in the shop. But according to another account, he added, the blast hit the Internet café immediately after a suspect stepped in. Police have cordoned the high-security Park Residence Guesthouse area, where a large number of foreigners live. “The injured have been rushed to a local hospital,” said Mashal.
“The dead have not been identified as yet. One of the bodies has been charred and mutilated beyond recognition,” the spokesman remarked, saying no one had been held in connection with the blast.
One of the injured, Israr Ahmed, a software expert, said 15 people were busy surfing the Internet when the bomb exploded. Three foreigners including a young girl were among them, he said.
“This Internet café has been targeted by terrorists because a large number of aliens visit it,” opined Mohammad Bilal, who was also slightly injured. He was unsure about the casualties, saying: “Smoke engulfed the whole place immediately after the bang.”
On August 28, 2004, a massive car bomb detonated outside the office here of the US security contractor DynCorp - providing security for President Hamid Karzai - killing seven people including two Americans.
The explosion comes hard on the heels of a fierce clash in the violence-plagued Zabul province, where at least 64 Taliban fighters and government troops are reported to have perished over the least four days.
PESHAWAR: The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the invincible unity of MMA put a brake to sectarianism in the country and foiled conspiracies of anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan elements.
He was addressing Provincial Seerat Conference at Auqaf Auditorium, Peshawar on Saturday. Provincial Ministers Amanullah Haqqani, Hafiz Akhtar Ali, MNA Rahmatullah Khalil, MPAs Abdur Razaq Mujaddadi, Dr. Zakir Shah, Advisor to Chief Minister NWFP Fazle Rahman Madani, Chairman Shariat Council Mufti Ghulam ur Rahman, Owais Qadri and Mufti Muneeb ur Rahman were also present at the occasion.
The chief minister said that Deeni Madaris were the centers of learning spreading the message of love and peace. He said that the worship places of minorities were safe in frontier province under MMA’s government. It was his government responsibility to protect the lives and property of minorities.
The chief minister said that MMA was a source of strength for the entire Muslim Ummah. His government was promoting Islamic values and hoped that the people of Punjab and Sindh would give a mandate in favour of MMA and would follow the people of frontier province to break the chain of slavery and would turn a deaf ear to the politics of landlords, wadera and khans.
He called upon the Khutba to unite the people against the conspirators conspiring to defame Islam. He assured that the provincial government within its powers was striving to implement its agenda for Shariah in the province.
The provincial assembly has unanimously adopted Shariat Bill and to put it on ground, the adoption of Hasba Bill was inevitable that would ensure cheap and easy access to justice.
He hoped that it would be adopted unanimously as the provincial government had got the opinions of all segments of the society through seminars. The people have been taken in to confidence and their apprehensions addressed to. He lashed out at the opponents of his government and added that their propaganda lacked substance.
What his government did to the welfare of the society should be seen and understood. His government improved law and order situation, banned purchase and sell of liquor, introduced interest free banking, provided free books to students up to Matric and declared education free up to Matric.
It exempted five marla houses from property tax, established A-grade hospitals in all districts, set up an education commission, introduced Jail reforms, established orphans centers and Darul Kafala and sensitized police to safeguard the lives and property of the people.
The chief minister said that his government gave an industrial policy giving attractive package to the investors and it was about to announce agriculture policy.
He said that his government made all decisions on merit and took all the political forces on board. He said that the establishment of Women University, women medical college, a separate sports directorate and other people’s friendly steps were the glaring achievements of his government.
Earlier, Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs, Maulana Amanaulah Haqqani presented a detailed resume of his government achievements and future plan.
That's interesting Oorang.
I wonder who the HOMICIDE-suicide bomber was in the cafe.
UPDATE...
"Suicide bomber blamed for Kabul blast"
Safia Milad