Three media men injured in a bomb attack on security forces in north-western Pakistan
Three media men, Amjad Ali Shah, reporter of TV channel “Express News”, his cameraman Muhammad Imranullah Siddiqui and Muhammad Israr, reporter of Pashto language TV channel “AVT Khyber”, accompanying the convoy of security forces were injured in bomb blast at about 11:20 am in Lower Dir district of north-western Pakistan on February 3, 2010. Three US soldiers, four female students and two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and at least 131 others were injured in blast.
According to press reports, it is the first time that US soldiers have been killed in the tribal region. US soldiers and journalists were being escorted by the FC personnel to take them to inaugural of a girls’ school which was blown up by the Taliban in January 2009, and rebuilt with the help of United States Assistance for International Development (USAID).
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said an improvised explosive device was used in the attack, but there were conflicting reports about the source of the blast. Some officials said it was a roadside bomb detonated by a remote control, while others claimed it was a suicide car bomb. The American soldiers were seated in bullet-proof vehicles.
The explosion also damaged an adjoining girls’ school. Around 122 schoolchildren were brought to the District Headquarters Hospital in Lower Dir.
Israr told PPF that Major Suleman had invited them for coverage. All three media persons were in FC vehicle which was drove in front of the US soldiers’ vehicle. After 15 minutes of driving, the blast occurred and two FC personnel who were seated outside the double cabin vehicle of media persons were killed on the spot. Meanwhile, other FC personnel started firing. Israr said he received injuries on his head, face, arms and legs.
Shah too told PPF that he and his cameraman received shrapnel injuries on head and face.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Azam Tariq claimed the responsibility for the attack in a phone call and alleged that the dead Americans belonged to US security company Blackwater Worldwide. He said that Americans killed in this blast are responsible for bomb blasts in Peshawar and other Pakistani cities.
It is worth mentioning here that as part of its offensive against militants in Swat, the Pakistan Army had also carried out operations in Lower Dir and successfully rooted out militants from the area, while the local people have also set up militias to root out insurgents taking refuge in the area. Taliban militants have attacked dozens of girls’ schools in this part of the country and these attacks have hampered female education system badly.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have strongly condemned the blast. They deplored the loss of precious lives and ordered an immediate probe into the incident.
US Embassy in Islamabad strongly condemned this vicious terrorist bombing attack in Lower Dir. The statement said that they are grieved over the loss of innocent lives and convey their sincere sympathy and condolences to the members of the bereaved families. Such inhuman acts of terror only serve to fortify Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism.
Meanwhile, US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke also condemned the attack. He said that it is a great tragedy and we are deeply regretful at the loss of life.
Various political leaders also condemned the blast. The leaders who expressed their deep sorrow at the loss of precious lives include Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Governor NWFP, Chief Minister NWFP, Provincial Ministers.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:2/4/2010
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