varun Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7051804.stm Bhutto convoy blasts kill scores Ms Bhutto was rushed from the scene to her Karachi residency More than 100 people have been killed after two bombs exploded among crowds in Karachi celebrating the return of the former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto. Ms Bhutto, who was travelling through crowded streets from the city's airport to a rally marking her homecoming after eight years in exile, was not hurt. The truck carrying her had its windows shattered and a door blown off. The attacks on the motorcade happened despite a heavy security presence following threats from militant groups. Several Islamist groups, including pro-Taleban militants, had said they would attack Ms Bhutto on her return after she promised to confront those operating in the northern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, said members of the government and intelligence agencies who were going to lose power were behind the attack. Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process Gordon Johndroe White House Spokesman In quotes: Blast reaction Ms Bhutto wants to contest parliamentary elections due to be held in January and she had been negotiating with President Pervez Musharraf over a possible power-sharing agreement. Mr Musharraf said the attack was a "conspiracy against democracy". "The president appealed to the nation and especially the people of Karachi to exercise patience and calm in this hour," said a statement by his office. The White House also condemned the blasts. "Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. 'Splattered with blood' Victoria Schofield, who was on the bus with Ms Bhutto, said the former prime minister had been standing on top of the bus for six hours, but had just gone downstairs to work on a speech when the first bomb exploded. There was blood all around and it was chaos - we didn't know where to go, what to do Farzana Raja PPP spokeswoman On board Bhutto's flight Crowds greet homecoming "We were sitting up on the top and suddenly there was this absolute flash of light and a blast," she told the BBC. "I felt lots of really hot air coming and we all - there were about 15 of us on the top of the bus - we all literally went to the ground." Ms Schofield said the first blast was relatively small but that it had had left people sitting on the left-hand side of the bus "splattered with blood". She said the first explosion had come from a parked car which police had begun to investigate. Ms Schofield said a second, much larger explosion occurred two minutes later. It is not clear whether the bomber was on foot or in a vehicle. "There was blood all around and it was chaos - and we couldn't understand what was happening - we didn't know where to go, what to do," said Farzana Raja, a spokeswoman for Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Most of the dead were members of the PPP, although police vehicles took the main force of the blasts and more than 20 police officers are thought to have died. One cameraman for a local TV station was also killed. After the blasts, a dazed Ms Bhutto was immediately rushed from the scene to her Karachi home. Power-sharing deal Ms Bhutto flew in from Dubai earlier on Thursday, accompanied by about 100 PPP members. KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Benazir Bhutto's homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January Flying into uncertainty At least 200,000 people turned out to greet her in what correspondents described as a carnival atmosphere, but the crowds slowed the progress of her convoy. Ms Bhutto had been planning to make a speech at the tomb of Pakistan's founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Ms Bhutto left the country soon after Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup, but returned under a power-sharing deal that could see her becoming prime minister again. The US has backed the deal, amid concerns about the military's inability to defeat Islamist militants and Gen Musharraf's rising unpopularity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varun Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Download/22573/1/NBC-Pakistan-Bombing.wmv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Outsider Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Holy $hit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tugga Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I know !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On an insignificant note....will SA continue there tour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Self created natak by Mushy and/or Bhutto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketics Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 yaa been checking this news since morning.. 8 saal baad aayi.. kuch toh hangama hona he tha.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rajiv Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Devastating, whatever the political angle..poor people pay with their lives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aditi Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Heard it on the radio today...terrible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holysmoke Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 saw it live, unfolding, on cnn.. shocking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ram Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Not surprising at all, that there has already been an assassination attempt on Bhutto. She is an high-profile many in the jehadi-military nexus would not like to see again. Have to appreciate Bhutto's bravery in going on a public convoy despite knowing that there was this threat on her life. In an interview even a few days ago , she had talked about how she had asked for jammers in her convoy to prevent timed road-side attacks , but guess no one can really stop a suicide bomber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaurav Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I wonder who was behind it. So many possibilities. Lot of graphic images! Sad that some people are so screwed up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kablooee87 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I actually felt like crying while watching some of the footage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ram Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I wonder who was behind it. So many possibilities. Lot of graphic images! Sad that some people are so screwed up! Indeed lots of possibilites... 1) Renegade army elements who fear a return of democracy with Bhutto. 2) Jehadists who fear a crackdown if military is shunted out. 3) Opposition parties who dont like Bhutto 4) Members of PPP itself , who dont like Bhutto coming back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ram Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 And i think its really STUPID of Bhutto to have risked her life like this.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaurav Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Indeed lots of possibilites... 1) Renegade army elements who fear a return of democracy with Bhutto. 2) Jehadists who fear a crackdown if military is shunted out. 3) Opposition parties who dont like Bhutto 4) Members of PPP itself , who dont like Bhutto coming back. You forgot the Joos :giggle: 5) Under Mushy's direct orders 6) CIA 7) ISI 8) Bhutto herself to get publicity ( I hope not though) 9) With blessing of Bhutto and Mushy . . . etc etc Regarding point 2) There can be NO crackdown without Pak army ki full backing. So I think the Jihadis reason won't be what you suggested. They have 100 other reasons to choose from anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty_South Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Self created natak by Mushy and/or Bhutto? When I saw the news this is what struck ma mind ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaiN_KiLLeR Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Bhutto blames the ISI, whereas Mushy is trying to deflect it on the Jehadis. It surely cant be done by the PPP, more than 90 of the 135 killed are their own party workers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineleg Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 And i think its really STUPID of Bhutto to have risked her life like this.. Actually she not only took a risk for her life, she has endangered many other lives. That was the stupidest thing she did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorah_pindu Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Pakistan is dangeously close to being a failed state. And as much as many Indians would like to say 'I told you so', this is just as bad for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee_rules Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 This looks like an internal conflict using al-Qaida as a weapon. My sympathies for the dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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