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Charsadda strike: Second attack targets Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Suicide blast on JUI-F chief’s motorcade leaves 13 dead, 31 injured.
Schoolchildren cry in a classroom near the site of the bomb blast in Charsadda. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
In the second attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman within 24 hours, at least 13 people were killed and more than 31 injured, while the Maulana remained unhurt as a suicide bomber blew himself up next to the leader’s convoy vehicle in Charsadda district on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, a suicide bomber attacked a JUI-F rally in Swabi district which killed 10 people.
The Maulana blamed external forces for the attack and told the media that unidentified men shot at his vehicle during Thursday’s suicide attack. He said there were forces who wished that he aligned himself with American policies. However, analysts say that the attack could have come from the Taliban or rivals closer home. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, meanwhile, clarified that there had been no security lapse and that Maulana Fazl had been advised not to take out rallies.
Witnesses told The Express Tribune that the assailants targeted the pilot vehicle of the JUI-F leader’s security retinue. Mirza Ali Shah, a member of the Elite police force, told The Express Tribune from his bed at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) that he had joined the convoy at Charsadda interchange of the motorway and around 20 motorcyclists were following them at the time.
“When we entered the Charsadda Bazaar, a blast hit our vehicle and I do not remember anything after that,” Shah said. He said that around four squad vehicles were following Fazlur Rehman’s s convoy when the attack took place, adding that the JUI-F chief’s vehicle was around 40-50 yards behind.
Sirajul Haq, another eyewitness, said that heavy firing also ensued as the blast went off. He said that it was not clear who resorted to firing or whether it was the JUI leader’s guards that opened fire. The dead include two police personnel and women.
Maulana Fazl was on his way to address a public meeting in Darul Uloom Islamia at Charsadda. The attack took place in the Nowshera Road area of Charsadda district close to the District Coordination Officer’s (DCO) office.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told reporters at the scene of the attack that Maulana Fazl was the target. The blast also damaged shops and homes in the nearby areas, besides a private school. Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) officials said that around eight kilograms of explosives were packed in the explosive vest.
Some of the injured were rushed to the LRH hospital. LRH Chief Executive Dr Abdul Hameed Afridi told The Express Tribune that at least 13 injured and dead were brought to the LRH. Four of the injured are in a serious condition.
Meanwhile, a rival group of the JUI-F is of the firm belief that the second attempt on the life of Maulana Fazl was the result of “duplicity” of the party chief in national politics.
“The two attempts on the JUI-F Ameer are the result of his five-year backing of General Musharraf and three years’ support of the PPP government,” said Maulana Khalil Ahmed Mukhlis and Najeem Khan Advocate, the provincial president and deputy secretary general of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Ideology group).The JUI Ideology group came into being during the 2008 elections.
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman is aware that the Taliban in Pakistan are also bitterly against his policies and on the US-led war on terror,” said another leader requesting anonymity.
The Taliban’s unbearable pressure had forced the chief of his own faction of JUI to pull out his two nominees from the federal cabinet in December last year, he said. Maulana Fazl, however, continued as the Chairman of the Kashmir Committee.
He has a large following mainly drawn from the students studying in seminaries of the Deobandi school of thought in almost all parts of the country. However, there is no dearth of people who oppose his politics and the way he does it, say observers.
He is also dubbed a Taliban sympathiser by many in the media and general public. Maulana also earned the title of “Mulla Diesel” after allegedly helping in issuing fuel permits to the Taliban regime of Afghanistan in the 90s.
Professor Khadim Hussain, analyst and head of Baacha Khan Education Foundation (BKTEF) said that these attacks could be viewed in two different perspectives. First could be internal dynamics of the militancy, Khadim told The Express Tribune.
Khadim said that many in KPK say that these attacks could also have a political angle, as the ANP and PPP have built a large power base after fighting militancy in this region and now, to gain sympathies, such attacks are being orchestrated.
President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Maulana Fazl and condemned the attack on his convoy.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2011.
Reader Comments (52)
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Molana Diesel is trying to get more security showing off this drama with his own supported Talibans…!!!Recommend
separate mosque & the government.As long as religion is allowed to bully the state,this religious terrorism will continue.Recommend
this guy was also too eager to get his 72 virgins. As long as religion promises teenage boys 72 virgins as a reward for murdering women & children this religious violence will continue.Recommend
watch the “god delusion” on youtube or read the book “the god delusion” by richard dawkins.Recommend
girl whipped to death on court’s orders:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/29/bangladesh.lashing.death/index.html?hpt=P1
These horrific,barbaric acts are still being done against women.Recommend
Molana Fazl Rehman controls the madrassas that indoctrinate taliban; the chicken have come home to roost!Recommend
May be he now starts calling the Taleban as Terrorists.Recommend
It is business as usual after the world cup semis :(Recommend
cricket fever over now back to the pavillion(bomb blasts)Recommend
So Molana now getting a taste of his own grown medicine. I hope he can feel what others feel at their loss. God help us!Recommend
@arif akthar:
First separate people from religion (make it a closed door and personal thing) then automatically mosque will get separated from government.Recommend
@arif akthar:
This is the most ridiculous theory…Recommend
@amjad bajwa:
Islamaic punishments are for to set examples. Just like in army discipline is maintained by harsh punishments similarly in a soceity there are certain limits and rules and every one has to obide by other wise Allah has set some punishments for the outlaws. Barbaric are those who cross limits.Recommend
@farhan aziz:
LOLRecommend
@Ghayoor
Where does islam asks local mullahs to order 100s of lashes for 14 year old kidsRecommend
lagta hay ki bachay apnay ustad say Naraz ho gaye hay :-)Recommend
Who knows he is doing it by himself to gain political milage ??? afterall how is he escaping all of these attacks, complelty unhurt? And mind it, he is the guy who’s madrassas has given birth to talibs and he still support them. It was during his party’s government tenure that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got this menacce of talibs. Two sides of the same coin.Recommend
Maulana is claiming it to be the work of CIA. He is in a tough bind. He cannot offend the Taliban and their invisible protectors.Recommend
Who likes the job where the job profile is creating virgins & delivery all the time!Recommend
@farhan aziz:
Where have gotten this reference of ’72 virgins’. Is it a figment of ur imagination and if it is not then , pray, tell us who has told u abt it? Recommend
@Aqeel Ahmed Khan Sherwani: the maulana has never supported the Pak tabs; infact he could not run his own election campaign in 2007-8 due to threats by the pak tabs. it is the afghan tabs he supports who are completely different to the paki onesRecommend
Maulana pulled off a stunt. He is the big player and indispensable for Taliban. He is one of the public faces of Taliban. Taliban may win or lose , he will always win an elevation by the side of army . Recommend
@Ghayoor:
what ??? mr. are from molanas group as well? usually sane people read tribune.Recommend
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that he and his party members were safe.”
Fake Maulana thinks that a common man has less worth than him or his party members.Recommend
Maybe you should consider voting for a govt that is more effective and less corrupt – voting is your only weapon in a Democracy use it wisely.Recommend
@Abu Huzaifa:
You don’t know about the 72 virgins? Where have you been? This information is known to EVERY citizen in Pakistan. You cannot be a true Pakistani. Looks like you have never spent time in a madrassa. Sad.Recommend
@Abu Huzaifa:
You are definitely a hard core moulana fan. Moulana never condemned any of suicide attack taking place in Pakistan, either on innocent people or on security forces. Now see what he says on this one. I believe that it was just a publicity stunt to attract attention.Recommend
Who would want to hurt clergy!! if he really is a clergy!!
Perhaps he should consider returning to the mosque and do allahs work and stop dabbling in politics! That may help to stop those who want to send him to paradise.Recommend
First create a true muslim society where there is absolute rule of law, no corruption in all manifestations, no nepotism, no violence, no law and order problem etc. only then politics and religion go hand in glove. Remember: ‘ juda ho deen siyasat say to rah jaati hai changez.i.’
Pending the creation of a true muslim society, religion should be kept aside to cleanse and banish all ills. All moulvis and so-called ‘religious ulema’ should not be allowed to dangle in politics, and instead help make the people true muslims in their madressas and seminaries. In the beginning, moulvis, especially Maulana Moudodi and his followers had adopted a correct policy whereby his followeers would shun politics and devote their energies to weed out all sorts of corruption and help evolve a true muslim society. However, later this policy was discarded and they jumped into the political field – not realising: ‘her kay dar kaan-e-namak raft, namak shood’.
Our moulvis in today’s pakistan trade on peoples lives. Only yesterday, nine peoples lost their lives in a terrorist attack on mouilana fazluir rehman’s rally in swabi, KP. Had he cancelled any further rally, twelve human lives which were lost in another rally in charsada, KP in less than twentyfour hours, could have been saved.
People in Bangladesh are no less muslims than us. lately, they have banned religion in politics. That’s exactly what we need in pakistan as well. No religion in politics unless we succeed creating a true muslim society. So many political parties which claim to be liberal and progressive, should come forward and voice collectively NO RELIGION IN POLITICS PENDING THE CREATION JOF A TRUE MUSLIM SOCIETY. Recommend
@amjad bajwa:
Very sad. This proves savage society & rules and the followers. Proves backwardness.Recommend
@Abdul Rahman Khan wrote: “First create a true muslim society…”
All the troubles started from there. Pakistan should have been “Republic of Pakistan”. Any country that lets religion take preeminence over humanity will face the same issues. Religion is merely a set of guiding principles for a better life – not to be mistaken for life itself. All this talk about dying and killing for religion is a gross misinterpretation of religion and what it stands for. This applies to India too.Recommend
@ Abdul Rahman Khan:
Can You define a True Muslim Society?In depth study of Quran reveals many incidents of hypocites and creeps, who were the contemporaries of the founder of Islam(pbuh).These contemporaries are revered by a large number of Muslims as pious companions of the holy prophet(pbuh)
The society you are seeking is a mirage which Muslims are ‘chanting as mantra’ since time immemorial. There never was a True Muslim Society( where every one loved and respected every one else) , and there never will be.
Follow Bangladeshi model for now, and forget about True Muslim Society.Recommend
Where in the world is the town idiot named Rehman Malik, he is always big about making statements on national media. I am asking you, Mr. 10% and our Prime Minister, why can’t you guys stop this type of violence….do you actually see those poor innocent children in the picture, they are scared for their lives. Children this young or of any age should be worried about home work and getting to school on time not about their lives. On behalf of entire country shame on the entire leadership for letting this happen over and over again, please either do something about it or step out of the way simply for the sake of our country. For once think about our country instead of political party. Recommend
His trainees are bitting his own hand now. You reap what you sow Maulana.Recommend
This godfather and spirtual leader of Talibans of Pakistan/Afghanistan must get the taste of his own receipes that he has been teaching to these suicde bombers for the past 2/3 decades.Recommend
@Joe: Is that why the Saudi regime do not provide religious freedom to their citizens??? stop hypcracy and get some education please.Recommend
The bomb proof Maulana.
What a stunt ###Recommend
Islam is what islam does!Recommend
You guys should be ashamed of your dirty remarks about a religious scholar as there is a saying by our hold prophet sallalahu alaihi wa aalihi wasallam which declares that the religious scholars inherit the religious knowledge from him. In any case, one should not blame any one without a proof. This is unislamic and unethical too.Recommend
When will these days of darkness and gloom end!Recommend
@Zahirurddin and All Readers
Brother, They all (Jamat –e-Islami and JUI) are Politicians just exploiting simple people of pakistan by exposing the Islamic behavior (long bread with Jinnah cap/ turbans)
Just Sale their Islam against Few US$ :)
Beware.Recommend
All of the guys above who are praising the attack on Molana are no different than the terrorists & extremists themselves. You have to oppose all violence in any shape and form. Don’t pick and choose. There is no good killing or bad. All of the people killed in the attacks were innocent.Recommend
Its so wonderful to see whenever someone gets a taste of his own medicineRecommend
@Ashraf: Mate, I think u have spent a lot of time listening to CIA; its abt time u went to a madrassah to get ur facts right….Recommend
100% Agreed with Yasin
We have to pray for All pakistan Recommend
@Jameel ur Rasheed:
I am not a maulana fan at all but what I am stating is a fact; if thats a bitter pill to swallow, I’ll tryto sweeten next time…Recommend
Yeterdsy, it was “maulana”, tomorrow it could be “mullah”. One day they are going to reap what the sow, in the name of religion.The whole society need to take a proactive look at the ways the Pakistanis behave as a nation. Chickens are coming home to roost!!!!Recommend
Go to hell you talibans destorying innocent lives, What we Pakistanis have done that we are suffering such attacks. There is no Allah.Recommend
Do you remember what VIKI Leaked Yesterday in Dawn newspaper????
Fazal Baging Indians to bring him and make him become a part in Dialoges between US and Afghan Taliban.. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ,, but thanks to US,, no lift for Fat Abdomin..
After two attacks (So Called upon Fazal),,now You have the Turab Card in hand.
You will soon be provided with Mercidies Bullet Proof vehicle…Elite Force Personnel… and may be you get Helicopter as well..You won..You played very well..and pl dont call him Molana you ppl and commting sin..he is not molana rather is “MOR LANA”..Recommend
@Zahiruddin:
Yeah,This religious scholar and political leader is found in Saudi Arabia when ever nation needs a clear answer from him, No i dont need that type leading me any shape or form. Recommend
Maulana Is one of the Great leader of the Muslim World.He is the lone leader who is voicing not only for this country but he also a strong activist for Gulf against American imperliasim. Those who talking againist him are the milk pack babies born under the age of US dictatorship and fed by Zoinist Funded Media .Long Live the Imam u Daleil (Leader of brain and Orguments.Recommend
I think this opportunity is just a facilitation for those people who are against Islam and Pakistan.their viewsc about Maulana shows very pre mature and full of revolt from our culture and religion. I think this is due to close attachment to western culture and distance from Quran.they don,t know the history of Islam and Jamiat Ulma Islam who gave sacrifices for the freedom of Sub Continent from British Imperlisam..Mr Abdu ur Rehman doesn,t know about the ABC of the Jamiat Ulma e Hind and Shah Waliullah movement.He does not know about Shaikh ul Hind and Kala pani Movement.First you should read indian and Islamic history then critivise Maualana.Recommend