.:: SAMAA - Peshawar blast: 3 injured

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Three people, including SHO, were injured in a remote control bomb attack on a police vehicle at Charsadda Road, Peshawar.

Accirding to police and eye witnesses the bomb was detonated when SHO Riaz-ul-Islam was passing through Faqirabad, Charsadda Road. SHO Riaz-ul-Islam, one policemen and a passerby were injured in the incident.

Those injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital. The bomb in the police vehicle was detonated near a private school. A transformer was also damaged in the blast, stopping electricity supply to the area.

AGENCIES ADD: A roadside bomb packed with steel pellets exploded in Pakistan's violence-plagued northwestern city of Peshawar on Thursday, wounding two policemen and an 11-year-old girl, officials said.

The remote-controlled device was planted near a power pylon in a congested area and targeted a police station chief, police official Hayatullah Khan said.

"The official, Riazul Islam, accompanied by his police guard, was driving to his office in his private car when the bomb went off," Khan said.

An 11-year-old girl, the official and his guard were wounded, Khan said.

Witnesses said the car was damaged and its wind shield smashed.

Doctor Zafar Iqbal of Peshawar's main Lady Reading Hospital confirmed the casualties but said they were out of danger.

"The bomb, wrapped in a packet, carried about two kilogrammes (four pounds) of explosives and was fitted with steel pellets to inflict maximum injuries," bomb squad official Tanvir Ahmed told AFP.

Militant bomb attacks have surged in Peshawar as Pakistan troops operate against the Taliban in the surrounding tribal belt, including a major air and ground offensive designed to flush out their stronghold in South Waziristan.

The sprawling city of 2.5 million people lies on the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, which US officials call the most dangerous place on Earth and where Al-Qaeda militants are plotting against the West.

Around 30,000 Pakistani troops have been fighting for nearly seven weeks in Taliban strongholds in the hostile terrain near the border with Afghanistan, where 100,000 NATO and US troops are fighting a deadly insurgency.

CHILDREN LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR

It makes one concerned when five-years-old Sana recites a poem questioning terrorists how they dare to kill innocent people:

“What kinds of people kill innocent people for nothing?

How they dare to stand before their God after such heinous acts?

Don’t they have any religion?

Don’t they believe reward or punishment for this act?”

This is the kind of mental stress prevailing among children, especially those of school-going age. The students of Peshawar city question their parents under what sorts of conditions they are living and what should they do if a blast occurs near them.

Most of the time, schools in the city are closed due to threats of attack

DEATH TOLL IN PESHAWAR BLASTS CROSS 400

Peshawar has been targeted once again and 19 people have been killed in a suicide attack in front of Judicial Complex, Khyber Road, Peshawar. It is the seventeenth blast since September 18 in different areas of the province. More than 400 people have lost their lives and 840 others are injured. Following is a time line of major attacks in NWFP during the last two months.

18 September, 2009 - The first attack was in rural fruit market of Kacha Pakka, Kohat where a car bomb blast killed 33 people. 60 people were injured in the blast.

26 September, 2009 - Car bomb blast at Fakhar Alam Road, Saddar, Peshawar killing 10 people and injuring 100 people.

9 October, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast in Khyber Bazar, Peshawar. 56 people, including a policeman, were killed and 112 were injured.

12 October, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast at Alpuri, Shangla, killing 47 people and injuring 26 people. Those killed included 5 policeman and four security officials.

15 October, 2009 - Bomb blast in area of Police Station Saddar, Kohat. Eleven people, including 3 police officials, were killed whereas 22 people were injured.

15 October, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast at Kohat Road, Peshawar. A child was killed and 7 people were injured in the incident.

16 October, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast at CIA check post. Twelve people, including 3 police officials, were killed and 24 were injured in the incident. A mosque was also damaged.

23 October, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast in front of a restaurant in Hayatabad. Fifteen people were injured.

28 October, 2009 - The worst terrorist activity in Peshawar took place at Peopal Mandi near Yadgaar Chowk. A suicide car bomb blast killed 117 people whereas 200 people were injured. A mosque was martyred and dozens of building were damaged.

8 November, 2009 - Suicide attack at animal market in Matni, Peshawar. Seventeen people were killed and 30 were injured. Those killed included union nazim Matni and leader of local lashkar formed to fight against Taliban.

9 November, 2009 - Suicide attacker exploded himself during body search at police blockade at Latifabad, Peshawar. Three people, including a police official, were killed and five were injured.

10 November, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk, Charsadda. Thirty two people were killed and 80 were injured in the incident.

13 November, 2009 - Shezore truck was used in suicide attack at provincial headquarter of ISI in Peshawar Cantt. In the incident, 17 people were killed and more than 30 were injured.

13 November, 2009 - suicide car bomb blast at Police Station Pakka Khel, Bannu. Twelve people, including 5 police officials, were killed. Twenty six people were injured.

14 November, 2009 - Suicide car attack at police check post in Pashta Kharra Chowk, Peshawar. Twelve people, including a police man, were killed whereas 26 were injured.

16 November, 2009 - Suicide car bomb blast in suburban area of Peshawar near Badh Berr police station. Four people were killed and more than 40 were injured. A mosque near the police station was martyred in the incident.

19 November, 2009 - Suicide attack at Judicial Complex, Khyber Road, Peshawar. In the incident, 19 people were killed and 36 people were injured. SAMAA