'I'll risk my life rather than surrendering to terrorists
Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto on Friday condemned the bombing, calling it an “attack on democracy”.
By Agencies |
‘I’ll risk my life rather than surrendering to terrorists’
KARACHI: Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto on Friday condemned the bombing, calling it an “attack on democracy”. Bhutto was unhurt in the attack, having climbed into her specially fortified vehicle just moments before two explosions ripped through crowds welcoming her back to Karachi after eight years in exile.
The streets, packed with hundreds of thousands of her jubilant supporters, quickly became a scene of bloody carnage. The campaign bus was scorched and dented. “The attack was not on me, the attack was on what I represent,” Bhutto told a press conference in the port city.
“It was an attack on democracy and it was an attack on the very unity and integrity of Pakistan.” Bhutto pledged to defy the “cowards” from al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups who had vowed to launch suicide attacks against her before she flew home from Dubai.
“If it means sacrificing our lives, then we are prepared to risk our lives, but we are not prepared to surrender our great nation to the militants,” she said. It was the worst suicide attack in Pakistan’s history and cast a huge cloud over hopes that her return, under a deal cut with president Pervez Musharraf, might end months of political turmoil in the country.
President Musharraf called Bhutto to “convey his deepest sorrow over the terrorist attack” and pledged to arrest the culprits, a presidential spokesman, retired major general Rashid Qureshi said. “We all condemn this terrorism and no one should take advantage of the situation and start a blame game,” he quoted Musharraf as saying.
Bhutto earlier accused supporters of late military ruler Mohammed Zia ul-Haq of being behind the blasts. Zia ul-Haq overthrew Bhutto’s father, prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in 1977 and had him hanged two years later, while her brother was shot dead here in 1996.
While admitting Islamist extremists were likely responsible for the attack itself, she stressed such groups could not operate without logistical support from people in positions of power.
The explosions — a grenade followed by a suicide blast — came hours after Bhutto had flown home, sobbing as she set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time since 1999, having shrugged off warnings of militant attacks.
“It was like walking through an abattoir,” said a photographer who was nearby when the bombing occurred. “Some people were lying around intact, others were completely dismembered.”
Interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said a grenade was thrown into the crowd seconds before the suicide attacker struck. “The bomber used things like pellets and nails, which always have a splintering effect,” Cheema added.
He said the blast “appears to be the handiwork of militants who have been creating acts of terrorism in the country.”
Deputy information minister Tariq Azeem said there had been a prior threat by Baitullah Mehsud, a pro-Taliban warlord linked to a string of attacks since July, to launch suicide attacks against Bhutto.
Bhutto’s husband Asif Ali Zardari however blamed the Intelligence Bureau, the country’s premier civilian spy agency.
Bhutto had returned from self-imposed exile after Musharraf dropped corruption charges against her in the hope her popularity could shore up his grip on power. She had mostly worked out a power-sharing deal with him, but his re-election as president earlier this month is now being challenged in the courts.
The United States, which sees Pakistan as a key ally in its “war on terror,” led the global outcry following the deadly blasts. Australia said the attack bore the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced the bombing.
KARACHI: Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto on Friday condemned the bombing, calling it an “attack on democracy”. Bhutto was unhurt in the attack, having climbed into her specially fortified vehicle just moments before two explosions ripped through crowds welcoming her back to Karachi after eight years in exile.
The streets, packed with hundreds of thousands of her jubilant supporters, quickly became a scene of bloody carnage. The campaign bus was scorched and dented. “The attack was not on me, the attack was on what I represent,” Bhutto told a press conference in the port city.
“It was an attack on democracy and it was an attack on the very unity and integrity of Pakistan.” Bhutto pledged to defy the “cowards” from al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups who had vowed to launch suicide attacks against her before she flew home from Dubai.
“If it means sacrificing our lives, then we are prepared to risk our lives, but we are not prepared to surrender our great nation to the militants,” she said. It was the worst suicide attack in Pakistan’s history and cast a huge cloud over hopes that her return, under a deal cut with president Pervez Musharraf, might end months of political turmoil in the country.
President Musharraf called Bhutto to “convey his deepest sorrow over the terrorist attack” and pledged to arrest the culprits, a presidential spokesman, retired major general Rashid Qureshi said. “We all condemn this terrorism and no one should take advantage of the situation and start a blame game,” he quoted Musharraf as saying.
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Bhutto’s party vowed she would stay in Pakistan to fight general elections in January, seen as a key step to returning the nuclear-armed nation of some 160 million people to civilian rule.Bhutto earlier accused supporters of late military ruler Mohammed Zia ul-Haq of being behind the blasts. Zia ul-Haq overthrew Bhutto’s father, prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in 1977 and had him hanged two years later, while her brother was shot dead here in 1996.
While admitting Islamist extremists were likely responsible for the attack itself, she stressed such groups could not operate without logistical support from people in positions of power.
The explosions — a grenade followed by a suicide blast — came hours after Bhutto had flown home, sobbing as she set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time since 1999, having shrugged off warnings of militant attacks.
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Blood and body parts were scattered widely across the scene and doctors at hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city struggled to keep pace.“It was like walking through an abattoir,” said a photographer who was nearby when the bombing occurred. “Some people were lying around intact, others were completely dismembered.”
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Hospital officials said nearly 400 people were injured. The explosion damaged Bhutto’s campaign bus decked out with portraits of the ex-prime minister and her father, on which she had been driven through the crowds for more than eight hours. Interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said a grenade was thrown into the crowd seconds before the suicide attacker struck. “The bomber used things like pellets and nails, which always have a splintering effect,” Cheema added.
He said the blast “appears to be the handiwork of militants who have been creating acts of terrorism in the country.”
Deputy information minister Tariq Azeem said there had been a prior threat by Baitullah Mehsud, a pro-Taliban warlord linked to a string of attacks since July, to launch suicide attacks against Bhutto.
Bhutto’s husband Asif Ali Zardari however blamed the Intelligence Bureau, the country’s premier civilian spy agency.
Bhutto had returned from self-imposed exile after Musharraf dropped corruption charges against her in the hope her popularity could shore up his grip on power. She had mostly worked out a power-sharing deal with him, but his re-election as president earlier this month is now being challenged in the courts.
The United States, which sees Pakistan as a key ally in its “war on terror,” led the global outcry following the deadly blasts. Australia said the attack bore the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced the bombing.
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