PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday claimed responsibility for twin bomb attacks targeting Shias in Karachi and Rawalpindi, which killed 25 people.
"We carried out the attacks (on Wednesday) in Rawalpindi and Karachi because the Shia community is engaged in defiling the Prophet (pbuh)," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Karachi witnessed twin blasts at Jamia Masjid-o-Imambargah Haider-o-Karrar in the Orangi Town neighbourhood. Two lives were lost, given that there was no congregation at the Imambargah at the time of the first or the second blast.
A suicide attack on a procession in Rawalpindi overnight killed 23 people and wounded another 62, a police rescue spokeswoman told AFP.
Deeba Shehnaz said the death toll rose from 16 after patients, who were critically wounded in the attack, died from their injuries in various hospitals.
COMMENTS (48)
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@Z.Khan:
Sorry see you comments only now. This is not the first time that ET edits my text creating half sentences. I should be lucky that they published it in the first place because many are not posted at all. Maybe you did not fully understand the meaning of my reply. The God of the Taliban cannot be the same as the God of the Shia. If their Gods would be the same there would be no reason to blow each other up in His name. In any case which one is the right God is up to believers not me. The world has seen enough human bloodshed in the name of religions not the best proof that God(s) exist. But of course in Islam it is worth fighting for.
The Taliban are not Muslims. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?283215 International / Opinion WEB | DEC 03, 2012 OPINION The Counterintuitive Jihad
God, this is horrible. But make no mistake, the Taliban are NOT Muslims, they're actions prove they are un-Islamic to the core, the commit shirk by using the Quran and Allah's word for their own means and we must fight them. Don't let them push Pakistan to the dark ages, Allah has warned us things like this would happen in the end of days. Every Muslim that falls for their tricks has fallen for the Devil's tricks. May Allah save Pakistan and it's citizens ameen.
I hope the Pakistani drones work, get the U.S off our backs and show we can get rid of these psychopaths ourselves.
@Hasan Abidi:
So True Sir!!
@Hasan Abidi:
Agreed Sir!! You have very nicely summed it up..
SOmeone please provide his information to Imran. HE is claiming that these attacks are done by foreign hands.
my sympathies to innocent people ( in this case with shias) being killed on regular basis. Also for innocent people ( like ahmadi, hazara, hindu, sunni, christian, jews) killed earlier at different times. When the people will understand simple rule of life or broad their mind or learn to live with tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of different religion ( even athist / kafir) and their different rituals or their different way of living ? Religion or no religion is a private affair of any individual, keep it to inside their home. One should not try to force oe's religion on others.
@Ali Zaid: Dear bro, these talibani terrorist deserve whip right now on this earth
Please correct the Heading... "Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)" and not "Pakistan Taliban"
@Aryabhat: u said rightly
@Mubashir: Dear bro, Don't give any importance or target to taliban, they r themselves terrorist & sick minded and they r killing innocent people, they should be eliminated like kasab or osama.
Hurts even more when I have heard relatively educated people say 'they deserve it'. We are very close to self destruction if not already there.
Doesn't seem far off when Pakistan would declare Shias non muslims ala Ahmadis. It can happen in only one country. Would not surprise many at all.
@Adnan
The problem with the Paki nation is that of not learning from its violent ridden history.
Look where we stand today.
We dont want to look at our monsters in the eye.
We dont even want to identify them.
There is an elephant in the room , but we refuse to acknowledge its overwhelming presence.
We r still blaming US, Indians , Afghanis and even Israelis , for all our ills.
After all that has happened to us, and our current sorry state of affairs, one wd expect that we wd atleast b a bit honest to ourselves and rational abt our predicament..
We have been nurturing this sectarian divide and religious bigotry in our out of control and unmonitored Madressa factories, producing 12 year old suicide bombers overtime, as if there was no tomorrow.
There was a time when our's was a slightly decent , independent and sovereign nation. But that was before we became a province of Saudi Arabia. The result is for all to c.
We have lost all semblance of civility. We r bombing our mosques, Imambargahs, shrines, girl's schools and wat not...........all in the name of Islam , ofcourse.
Still all u read in the comments above, is the sickening Conspiracy Theory garbage. The 3rd Force mantra drilled into our psyche, day in and day out.
Pakistan doesnt need enemies. Its more than self sufficient in that department.
We r our own biggest enemy.
We hate education. We love extremism. We resist tolerance, infact we fight it tooth and nail. We promote and encourage bigotry, mostly religious ( read sectarian).
Its time we called spade a spade.
In our neighborhoods we have a dozen versions of ' Real Islam '. Everybody promoting his own brand, with blind conviction, often with deadly consequences.
We dont deserve nature's sympathy. No wonder the gods have turned their backs on us.
Its time Pakistan woke up from its deadly slumber, before its late n useless.
HASAN ABIDI hasanwazir1@gmail.com
TTP is creating a mayhem all over Pakistan and they are sparing no one, killing children, women, innocent people, Shias and even soldiers at will. Thousands of people have been killed so far by TTP but what is most surprising is that Pakistanis accept it as a routine and blame others except their own security forces and intelligence agencies who are responsible to eliminate them and on whom major part of budget is spent at the cost of economy. There has been no debate in the National Assembly of Pakistan on failure of security forces to contain militancy and pinning responsibility on top brass of military and its intelligence agencies for thousands of killings taken place in the past and presently on daily basis. Even the proactive judiciary has never raised suo moto motion on this burning issue and question the Army and intelligence Chiefs for their inability to control militancy. Due to non-accountability of security forces by the civilian govt, the situation is going from bad to worse and people in Pakistan are equally guilty for not raising their voice against the atrocities and failure of the army and other security agencies to control militancy in the country.
After reading such comments, I was wondering how can we help ourselves if we still do not want to come out of our "state of denial". I was just thinking that what if any charistian, hindu or ahmadi organization would have accepted the responsibility of these attacks instead of our very own Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. What would have been our reaction or the reader's response here. TTP has accepted the responsibility of these attacks and we are still looking for some conspiracy theories in these attacks. Please for Heaven's sake let's come out of this state of denial and let's admit that we have been supporting these barbarians in the name of Islam. They are giving a bad name to our peaceful religion so let's fight with them and make this country liveable for all.
@ Aryabhat: whatever u said is so very true. But what saddens me is that many of those commenting here were yesterday saying prayers for Kasab...
Just pass a resolution and declare us a minority so we can curse Jinnah in prayers :((
Erase Taliban and their supporters from Quetta to Karachi and Islamabad to Waziristan. Pakistan has become a society of living dead where the hypocrites rule. If Israeli kills Palestinians our 'GHAYRAT' churns up but if in our own country, our Muslims brothers are massacred; this is all acceptable. Stop justifying this blood bath--by the state sponsored jihadis-- with CIA agents and foreign hands. They are our strategic assets and that statement is endorsed by our KHAKEES.
Crush the TTP with the help of tribal people.
Start hanging terrorist handlers just like Ajmal kasab was hanged in India. Start packing them off to paradise unlike brainwashed suicide bombers ,so that these handlers/leaders of Lashkar should also have taste of 72 houris in zannat!
Same people who killed Hussain(as) and mutilated his body are now killing & mutilating the progeny and followers Hussain(as). Don't worry Taliban, special oiled-firy-whips are awaiting you in the deepest parts of Hell!
TTP are cowards and violent. They have hurt Malala as well. They are committing genocide without any end in sight. They refuse to negotiate and have not clarified as to what they want in return? What are their demands? I believe them to be a minor entity and a focussed operation can neutralise them but needs resolve and effort from the authorities. The statement refers to “defiling of Prophet (PBUH)”. This is absolutely incorrect as otherwise it implies that half of the Muslim world is “defiling” by their philosophical action to emphasise the message of Karbala
@Asad: Finally showing some signs that you can actually think. Agree with all that you have said in the above post.
@abid: What are the sources of your theory? What evidence do you have for this?
Looks like the conspiracy theories have already begun!
Let us accept for a moment that Indians, Americans, Israelis & Afghans are involved in all this mayhem in Pakistan in the shape of suicide attacks & other terrorist attacks. They are the main sponsors & trainers for all this. Then a question arises that what are our so called defence forces, intelligence agencies & police doing? Aren't we spending the bulk of our budget on them? And this is their performance in around a decade that they were unable to get one of the accused in the terrorism activities punished from the courts. They didn't have the courage to present the widows & children of Osama Bin Laden to media here in Pakistan & no one in the so called "free media" questioned it...
If they cannot rid our country of these terrorists, then they should accept their defeat. So that we can start negotiations with the real sponsors of these terrorists, i.e. Indians, Americans, Israelis & Afghans for ending these terrorist activities... After all most of the right wing in Pakistan is saying that we should initiate negotiations with Taliban, why not start it with their real sponsors, first with Track-II... Let us take the first step...
@Toba Alu: By the way what this incident has to do with the existence of God." As an atheist it just proves that neither exists and that we humans are to blame for our own mistakes" Your half sentence is logical and true that we humans are to blame for own mistakes. God does exist. He has shown the path to the human being. Now if some of us are committing mistakes you can not blame His Entity. Rest in your comments you suggested very nicely and one should follow it.
Really great people ,great country following great religion-- the religion of peace--there can't be more peaceful religion than the religion of peace
KARACHI: The security of all functional airports of the country, including Karachi airport, was put on high alert to avert any possible terrorist attack during the month of Muharram.
http://rtilive.pk/detail/6811
Right to Information Pakistan Live, RTI Live, Information Pakistan, RTI online Research ORganization, month of Muharram, ASF, Airport Security Force, terrorist attack, interior ministry
Hardly any one seems interested to diagnose the actual problem and strive to resolve it. No one is realizing it is big country on the map of the world with huge population. And does possess nuke also. Recent analysis revealed almost all the existing political parties inclined towards mustering extremist religious ideas and are signing cooperation with such extremist outfits. Existing mindset paying much more attention to religious fundamentalism including IK of PTI. Unless revolutionary steps will not be taken by some concrete force to change this mind set, I do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. God save Pakistan.
My sympathies for the people who lost their loved ones in this brutal attack.
As for people looking for CIA and Drone attacks in this - How can you justify killing of innocent civilians for that?
@Mubashir, IF this people killed Americans or Israelis instead of Pakistanis - would that be acceptable to you? How can killing of ANY innocent civilians be acceptable to a civilised man?
Most threads I read in comments so far - I see largely "Denial". Pls wake and smell coffee. This is same TTP who just yesterday called Kasab as "HERO" and today killed your brothers and sisters! Taliban are no one's friends!
To all of you who are actually sensing conspiracy theories and accusing others who fail to believe them of living in a fool's paradise
As far as I know, there has been an ongoing session in the Supreme Court Bench in Karachi regarding the violence here
According to the intelligence agencies, most of the criminal activities being reported specially from the central and western parts of the city are being conducted by the Taliban and other banned militant organizations who are involved in extortion, bank robberies, carjacking and also kidnappings amongst other types of crimes .. this is where they are getting all their finances
the law enforcement agencies from Punjab have also informed the LEAs in Karachi that the same groups are involved in extortion and other types of crimes in major cities such as Lahore and Faisalabad
The Supreme Court expressed its astonishment that around 7000-8000 militants managed to penetrate into Karachi from other parts of the country while our intelligence agencies failed to act
There is no conspiracy here, there is nothing hard to understand!
Shias get killed in the dozens every week, but there is literally no reaction .. However, we just start discussing whether the Indians are involved or are the Afghans etc .. this could not get any shallower
The D 8 or whatever has nothing to do with this, Shias have been targetted since the time of Zia ul Haq when several communal riots took place against Shia Muslims, later throughout the 1990s, they were continuously attacked, for example, even Shahbaz Sharif who was the CM of Punjab back in the late 1990s tried to reign in militant activity, namely Sipah e Sahaba, but failed miserably! So please, have some humanity! At least sympathise with them! Shia Muslims, ok fine, you might not agree with their traditions and certain aspects of religion, but they are at the end human beings like you and me ..
This is just another event of religious madness. Built-in these heroic actions, certainly one God must be happy and certainly one will be sad. As an atheist it just proves that neither exists and that we humans are to blame for our own mistakes. We are the only ones who should correct the mistaken fellow human beings, not by murdering them as religious fanatics think, but by teaching, schooling, love, responsibility, etc. Just read a few other books for a change.
In my personal opinion in the age of internet every such organization should have an official website(do they have any?) known to the media and people. then only it could be said in certainty that this is their work or not. who will verify AFP. or how will AFP will verify the phone calls. this telephone call will easily raise the sentiments but in reality on ground no one want to kill no one.
@abid: such idiotic stupid comment. India and Afghanistan has their own business to do. You people of Pakistan have no proof, no evidence, no news you can show and yet blame your own terrorism to other countries. grow up people. I am Chinese BTW
Until the silent majority speaks up, nothing will change.
@abid: open your eyes and call spade a spade....
This is actually the reaction against Drone strikes by USA, Army Operation in FATA and Alliance with Nato.
Now where is Rehman Malik who claims/says and always has been claiming/saying that we have broken the backbone of Taliban but the realities are against the facts and in fact Pakistani government has badly badly badly failed to provide the security and protection to the nation except increasing its leaders',ministers' and bureaucrats' security and taking these temporary solutions' steps by increasing the difficulties,problems and miseries for the nation,that are,banning the pillion-riding on motorbikes,blocking the mobiles' phones services and riding the motorbikes... In other words Rehman Malik has been badly badly badly failed to prove his words true regarding peace,security and protection in Pakistan and has been only giving hypocritical,false,fabricated and embellished statements regarding Taliban,peace,security and protection and deceived the nation very easily.....
It is not our war. I smell CIA's hand in it. Why not throw in the other usual suspects as well. When will we know that the situation has hit the rock bottom? Unfortunately, no way to know until after one has hit it and on the way up. ..Peace
Instead of criticizing TTP now which we have been doing it since years.
Lets all think, 1) Who is funding these bomb blast?. Do they work to get the money for it?. Which seems less probable. 2) If they are being funded. Who is and why is someone funding them. For what purpose? Moreover, Islamic teachings are as clear as they can get. There is absolutely no ambiguity. We all know killing an innocent is a sin.
What I believe is that in a country suffering from such high inflation and joblessness and when you don't get much protein to eat, you cant go on killing people on streets. You don't have enough energy for that.
i personally dont think ttp is involved in all these attacks though they have animosity against Shia muslims but intelligence agencies of Pakistan must take note that after the sanctions on Iran , there has been frequent attacks on Shias in Pakistan especially when Iran Pak gas pipeline is getting funding support From Ahmednijad of Iran who is going to Take part on D8 meeting. After a long time D8 meeting is happening, the bomb blast is to create fears among Foreign Representatives and create Media hype against Pakistan security situtaion to drive away any investments or business accords.It is carefully planned with the main intention to harm Pakistan. Frequent Bombings in market places and on Shias have a big hand of Indian And Afghan Intelligence agencies.Those who fail to acknowledge are living in fools paradise. Last but not the least Rehman Malik should please resign and make some knowledgeable person interior minister.
Oh god when will this bloodshed stop shaikh rasheed was right this is just trailer may Allah save our Shia brothers