(که سپوره وي که پوره وي نو په شریکه به وي (باچاخان)

27killed in ANP rally bombing

[09.Feb.2008 - 23:35]
CHARSADDA/PESHAWAR: Twenty-seven people were killed and over 50 others injured when a powerful bomb ripped through an election rally of the Awami National Party (ANP) in Nahaqi village in Shabqadar on Saturday. Provincial caretaker Health Minister Syed Kamal Shah confirmed the death of 20 people in the blast, saying 25 were wounded. The Charsadda district police officer (DPO) immediately after the blast termed it a suicide attack. Some investigators, however, said it could not be confirmed whether it was a suicide attack or the explosives were planted near the wall of the hujra, where the rally was being staged. Eyewitnesses said there were up to 120 people in the hujra, almost all of whom were ANP workers. A few of those present there at the time of the blast said they had seen a suspect person entering the building just before the blast. Eyewitnesses told The News that the bomb went off at around 5:15 pm, exactly when ANP candidate for NA-8 Charsadda-II, Bashir Khan Umerzai, was delivering a speech after recitation from the holy Qura’an. The bodies were seen lying scattered and the wounded crying for help after the blast. Nahaqi is located 25 kilometres from the provincial capital. Apart from two policemen who were on duty, most of those killed in the incident were young ANP activists who had gathered around the stage and were chanting slogans. The ANP announced 3-day mourning over the tragic incident and loss of precious lives of its workers. Twenty-six of those killed in the incident were identified as Wali Muhammad, Ibrar, Mohabbat, Hayatullah, Misbahullah, Jahanzeb, Khisro Khan, Zeenat Khan, Shah Nazar, Jahanzeb, Tahir Bacha, Qaisar, Zahid Khan, Riaz, Fayyaz, Raj Wali, Gul Lala, Aftab, Zia, Azizur Rahman, Sial Bacha, Khayal Bacha, Yasir, Bismillah Jan, Irfan and Muhammad Khan. There were unconfirmed reports that some of the bodies were disfigured beyond recognition. Some of the wounded were identified as Sajjad, Hamza, Jahanzeb, Muhib, Zia, Nosherwan, Said Rahman, Saeed, Shaukat, Falak Niaz, Zubair Ahmad, Yunus, Johar and his brother Gohar. At least 37 injured were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, and 11 of them were stated to be in critical condition. Ten of the wounded were said to be minors while three were policemen. A sate of emergency was declared at the LRH, Peshawar, and Shabqadar hospital. The wounded were brought to the LRH in private vehicles as sufficient number of ambulances was not available. Top leaders of the ANP, including provincial chief Afrasiyab Khattak, Bashir Khan Umerzai, Lawangin Khan and others remained unhurt. There were reports that ANP provincial assembly candidate from the constituency, Masoom Shah Bacha, sustained minor injuries. However, party provincial chief Afrasiab Khattak said he and all other party leaders were safe. ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan was also scheduled to address the rally. However, he could not arrive at the venue due to his illness. Asfandyar asked the party workers and leaders to observe three-day mourning and arrange Fateha gatherings for those killed in the blast. Bashir Khan Umerzai is the ANP Charsadda district president and a candidate for NA-8 against former federal minister and the chief of his own faction of Pakistan People’s Party, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. Sherpao had been attacked twice by suicide bombers in the same district during the months of April and December last year but he remained unharmed. It has been learnt that the venue of the rally had been changed for security reasons. There were reports that the main gate of the hujra was closed and people were not allowed to enter. However, the door was opened later and people rushed in. ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan said blasts at election rallies was a conspiracy to postpone the elections but Pakhtuns will continue to follow the non-violence philosophy. “Pakhtuns have always offered sacrifices and we are proud of it. We will continue to render more sacrifices,” the ANP leader pledged. The nationalist leader added that under a planned conspiracy, the top political leadership was being targeted to create a crisis. “Anger has been triggered with the killing of Pakhtuns all over the country that could harm the solidarity of the country,” he warned. PPP-S Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, while condemning the incident, urged the people to unite in the fight against terrorism. He asked the political parties to join hands against the menace of terrorism. NWFP caretaker Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk condemned the blast, saying elections would not be postponed. He added that deferment of the election would mean that terrorists had succeeded in their nefarious designs. Lauding the support of the political parties, the chief minister said political parties should cooperate with the government in holding peaceful elections. Charsadda district has witnessed, at least, three suicide attacks in the last one year. On two occasions, terrorists targeted the then interior minister Aftab Sherpao. If proved to be a suicide attack, the Nahaqi incident would be the first one targeting a rally of the nationalist Awami National Party. ANP Senior Leader Bilal Shah dies in road mishap Friday, 20 June 2008 Khyberwatch Peshawar: Senior Leader and Central Secretary Culture of the Awami National Party Mr. Syed Bilal Shah was died and his four close relatives including DSP Mohammad Arif Khan were injured in a fatal road accident near Kund, Khairabad, some 40 km from Nowshehra on Friday. The ill-fated family was on its way from Peshawar to Rawalpindi to enquire about a close relative, a cancer patient at the CMH Rawalpindi, when reached Kund rest house, Khairabad their car bearing registration No. B 3812 plunged into a ravine, as its tie rod broke while negotiating a sharp turn. As a result Bilal Shah, his cousin DSP Security Mohammad Arif Khan, spouse of DSP Fauzia Arif, daughter Palwasha and son Mohammad Muneeb sustained serious injuries. They were rushed to a private hospital in Jehangira, where Bilal Shah succumbed to injuries. While other family members were shifted to Peshawar. Their condition is stable now. Late Syed Bilal Shah was born in Swabi. His father name was Mian Syed Wazir. He was the leader of Pakhtun Students Federation in his college life. Later he joined Awami National Party and became its Provincial Secretary Information. He unsuccessfully contested the 2002 election for the Pakhtunkhwa Assembly form PF-5. Recently he was appointed as Central Secretary Culture of the Awami National Party. Khan Abdul Wali Khan´s famous book ´´Bacha Khan & Khudaie Khidmatgaree´´ was published under his supervision. Central President of the party Mr. Asfandyar Wali Khan, Provincial President and Peace Envoy Mr. Afrasiab Khattak, Provincial General Secretary Mr. Tajuddin Khan, Provincial Secretary Information Mr. Arbab Tahir Khan and the Chief Minister of Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Ameer Haider Khan Hoti in their seperate messages paid glowing tributes to the services and contributions of Syed Bilal Shah for strengthening the party. They prayed Allah, the Alimighty, to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and award courage to the bereaved family bear this irreparable loss with patience and fortitude. He prayed for the departed soul of the diseased and for courage for the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. Meanwhile a condolence meeting of Bacha Khan Trust Media Cell was held here at Bacha Khan Markaz Peshawar. The meeting was attended by all staff members of Media Cell. The attendants paid great tributes to the late Syed Bilal Shah and expressed great sorrow for the sad demise of the late party leader. They also offered Fateha for the departed soul.
- The News
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