Suicide blasts grip Pakistan, over 16 killed, 136 wounded
ISLAMABAD, June 12 (KUNA) -- In the latest spate of suicide blasts in eastern and northern parts of Pakistan on Friday, over 16 people were killed and more than 136 others were wounded, said police and security sources.
The day started with a suicide bomber targeting a police mobile van in northern Hangu district, known for sectarian violence, of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), killing four policemen and wounding at least six others.
In tandem to the blast, security sources continued operation against militants in Bannu town, sources told KUNA.
They said the operation killed more than two dozen militants and also resulted in the arrest of at least five militants.
The sources added that two of the arrested were of Afghan origin.
In the second incident, sources said further, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Naushehrah district of NWFP amid a large number of people were gathered to offer the Friday prayer.
According to police and hospital sources, the blast killed at least ten people and wounded nearly 100 others.
They said the mosque was badly damaged and that the resuce operation was still underway.
Sources feared rise in the death toll saying several wounded were in critical condition.
Only minutes after the Naushehra blast, another suicide bomber struck a mosque in the eastern city of Lahore as people finished their Friday prayer and were preparing to leave.
According to initial reports, the blast killed at least two and wounded over 30 others.
The week proved to be the bloodiest since Pakistan joined the US-led war against terrorism in 2002 after abandoning the self-created Taliban of Afghanistan.
Two consecutive suicide blasts in Peshawar on Wednesday and Thursday had left over 24 people dead and nearly 50 others wounded.
Analysts have warned that the militancy will further intensify if the government did not take economic measures for the uplift of under-developed areas of the country as almost ninety percent of the suicide bombers belong to either Southern Punjab or least-developed bordering tribal region.
Also, authorities have termed the worsening security situation of the country in reprisal to US drone attacks in FATA and army's facilitation of US troops in conducting operation against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.
The day started with a suicide bomber targeting a police mobile van in northern Hangu district, known for sectarian violence, of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), killing four policemen and wounding at least six others.
In tandem to the blast, security sources continued operation against militants in Bannu town, sources told KUNA.
They said the operation killed more than two dozen militants and also resulted in the arrest of at least five militants.
The sources added that two of the arrested were of Afghan origin.
In the second incident, sources said further, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Naushehrah district of NWFP amid a large number of people were gathered to offer the Friday prayer.
According to police and hospital sources, the blast killed at least ten people and wounded nearly 100 others.
They said the mosque was badly damaged and that the resuce operation was still underway.
Sources feared rise in the death toll saying several wounded were in critical condition.
Only minutes after the Naushehra blast, another suicide bomber struck a mosque in the eastern city of Lahore as people finished their Friday prayer and were preparing to leave.
According to initial reports, the blast killed at least two and wounded over 30 others.
The week proved to be the bloodiest since Pakistan joined the US-led war against terrorism in 2002 after abandoning the self-created Taliban of Afghanistan.
Two consecutive suicide blasts in Peshawar on Wednesday and Thursday had left over 24 people dead and nearly 50 others wounded.
Analysts have warned that the militancy will further intensify if the government did not take economic measures for the uplift of under-developed areas of the country as almost ninety percent of the suicide bombers belong to either Southern Punjab or least-developed bordering tribal region.
Also, authorities have termed the worsening security situation of the country in reprisal to US drone attacks in FATA and army's facilitation of US troops in conducting operation against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.
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