Suicide blast at Asfandyar Wali’s ‘Hujra’ kills 4 in Charsadda

[Spring Onion]

Suicide blast at Asfandyar Wali’s ‘Hujra’ kills 4 in Charsadda
Updated at: 1730 PST, Thursday, October 02, 2008
CHARSADDA: A suicide bomber blew himself up as he tried to run into the house of Awami National Party (ANP) President, Asfandyar Wali Khan on Thursday, killing four people but missing the politician, officials said.

It happened as Asfandyar Wali Khan was visiting a guest in his ‘Hujra’ (guest house) attached to his house during celebrations on the second day of Eid-ul-Fitr, police and party officials said.

"Five people were killed in the suicide blast. The target was Asfandyar Wali but he is safe," Mian Iftikhar, the information minister for NWFP told reporters.

Provincial police chief Malik Naveed told reporters that guards shot the bomber before he blew himself up.

"The suicide bomber tried to pass from the security scanner avoiding a physical search. Two security guards grabbed him but he tried to get away," Naveed said.

"Then he was shot and as soon as he fell on the ground he blew himself up.”

He added, "we had made strict security arrangements and that is why the attacker could not cause more damage or casualties."

A senior party member said that one of Khan's armed guards was killed in the latest attack.

Police said the other victims included a policeman and a bank manager, Fazal Ghani, who was visiting to pay his respects to Khan.

The ANP is a secular party supporting the rights of ethnic Pashtuns and Taliban militants have carried out several attacks on its political rallies and its leaders. Twenty-five people were killed in a bombing at an ANP rally in Charsadda in February.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have strongly condemned the blast, the.

"Elements bent upon destroying the peace of the country will not be allowed to succeed in their ulterior motives," President Zardari said.

Suicide blast at Asfandyar Wali’s ‘Hujra’ kills 4 in Charsadda

 

[Zero Bravo]

This is why local Pashtons are standing against the Taleban. I guess Taleban should respect the Pashton code of Masharan if want to mentain their conventional support from Pashton tribe.

Espandyar is a pashton leader and Pashtons dont like their Masharan being killed brutally.

 

[batmannow]

That could be final call for pakistani TALIBAN's, from now on they are going to lose remaning respect, support and supply of new commrads in the comming future! eventuly lossing soft corner in the hearts and the minds of local PASHTUNS.
The incident was, a act of terrorism , it shouldbe condemed, by the way , it could be frist time when , security personals succeded to kill the SS bomber & it could be the best part of this incident!

 

[Spring Onion]

This is why local Pashtons are standing against the Taleban. I guess Taleban should respect the Pashton code of Masharan if want to mentain their conventional support from Pashton tribe.

Espandyar is a pashton leader and Pashtons dont like their Masharan being killed brutally.

I do not see any reason for Taliban even Proxy Taliban to kill ANP people.
As ANP had been very vocal against any operation in tribal areas as well as any Pashtun area.

This seems handiwork of those who want to weakn ANP rather wants to creat another chaos.

 

[dr.umer]

It was a certain move to create chaos in the country.

I was watching in the news as Asfand-yar-Wali spoke after the incident. He gave credit to his bodyguard (probably from Police) who first shot that terrorist and than he physically took him down and lied above him. As the bomb went off, he got killed but in the process he saved many lives.

I salute his spirit and courage. May he rest in peace along with others who lost their lives. Amen

 

[BATMAN]

It may have been a surprising new move by TTP, which helped ANP winning election by doing major bomb blasts before elections and helping in developing a sense of insecurity in general public.

They also provided security to the lawyers protests and Iftikhar reciprocated in freeing many TTP members arrested previously.

TTP has been never against any faction of coalition govt. in past they were engaged in target killing of educated / upclass people of Pakistan and key security buildings and infrastructure.

Last time it was Zardari who declared that Marriot bombing was an attempt to kill PPP leadership and now circumstances says some one tried to kill ANP leader!

Is not all about playing victims to invite foreign troops?

I read some where that Zardari also pleaded at UN assembly to send troops for his protection and of his family!

 

[RabzonKhan]

The ANP Chief reaffirmed his commitment to fight the menace of terrorism in a more effective manner, saying such cowardly acts could not deter the ANP from pursuing national policy to ensure peace and stability in the country.

That’s the spirit!


Foreign elements involved in Bagh attack: Asfandyar


ISLAMABAD ( 2008-10-03 14:52:45 ) :Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who escaped an assassination attempt in Wali Bagh suicide attack on Friday said pro-Taliban have denied their involvement in the heinous crime and held foreign elements responsible for the act.

“It is not our work rather it is the work of foreign elements,” he quoted Taliban as saying.

The statement of pro-Taliban gave a clear message that there was rift among the militants operating in tribal areas, he told a private TV channel in a telephonic interview.

Khan termed the formation of ‘Tribal Lashkar’ against the miscreants as “good development” and said it would yield positive results.

He expressed optimism that the things would start moving in the right direction soon.

The ANP Chief reaffirmed his commitment to fight the menace of terrorism in a more effective manner, saying such cowardly acts could not deter the ANP from pursuing national policy to ensure peace and stability in the country.

He said ANP’s history was full of sacrifices and it was not afraid of such tactics.

To a question, he said “war against terrorism is our own. It is not the war of America,” adding terrorists are targeting innocent people of Pakistan and wanted to create unrest and instability in the country.

The ANP Chief criticised the previous government when it introduced Afghan refugees as ‘Mujahideen’ during Afghan-Soviet Union war, terming it “root cause of the problem.”

 

[Awesome]

Really appreciate the way ANP has grown into a major sensible Pakistani political force. Hence the terrorists trying their usual crap to subdue the Pashtun voice. This has gone too far. Now you'll see Asfandyar Wali dismantle their support from those far flung border areas.

Asfandyar Wali got Zardari to agree on changing the name of the province. Something none of these terrorists were able to do because they weren't the least bit interested in the good things about Pashtun progress. And he did it peacefully.

Targeting the Pashtun hero was such a stupid thing to do.