The Pakistani Taliban Wednesday claimed responsibility for the bomb attack on Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool’s convoy in Karachi which killed eight security men and injured the judge.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the Taliban also carried out attacks on the local peace council chief in Bannu and a police officer in Peshawar.
"We claim responsibility for the attack on the Sindh High Court judge as he had delivered verdicts against Muslims and particularly the Mujahideen," the TTP spokesperson told The Express Tribune via phone.
He said the judge was also part of the "secular system" and the attack was completely in line with the Taliban policy to target all those who are part of the system.
Earlier in the morning, 12 people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries, including a senior judge who was critically injured in a bomb explosion at Burns Road, Karachi.
Police said Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool’s convoy was the target of the attackers. They added that explosive material was planted on a motorbike.
"He received threats from the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Other militants had also threatened him," police official Ameer Sheikh told AFP.
The motorbike was parked near a mosque and exploded as soon as the convoy passed by it.
Police and rescue personnel soon reached the area and the injured - including Justice Maqbool - were shifted to nearby hospitals. The affected area was sealed for initial investigation.
The injured include four police personnel and a Rangers officer. The police officials are said to be in critical condition.
Justice Maqbool was declared out of danger after he was given medical aid at the Civil hospital. He was then shifted to a private hospital near the Stadium Road.
Due to the intensity of the blast, three police mobile vans and two motorbikes were badly damaged.
The dead include the SHC judge’s driver, guard, a police and a Rangers officer.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Chief Secretary Sindh and senior police officials also visited the area.
People were requested to stay away from the crime scene.
A case has been registered against unknown persons at the Aram Bagh police station.
Justice Maqbool is a senior judge of SHC and is currently working as acting chief justice. He has worked on several cases involving militants, serving as a judge in special anti-terrorism courts set up in Pakistan to hand down quick judgements in terror cases.
The justice had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order in 2007 and took active part in the Lawyers’ Movement.
Police sources said Justice Maqbool had been facing threats ever since he released an alleged target killer associated with the militant group Sipah-e-Mohammad.
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@Aysha M: Army is busy in many areas. What did we have elections for? We had the elections for the prerogative of demanding any legal means necessary for our safety and well-being. The Rangers won't do the job. We should just stop asking for chicken soup to cure the cancer at hand. Time is of the essence here. The choice is ours. It may not necessarily be the same later on.
@Umer: Then let's all man up and DEMAND an army action in our town, should we?
@Syed A. Mateen:
On your request I would like to remained you that Richard Armitage once said that, post 9/11 if pakistan coninues with support of taliban, US would bombard pakistan to stonage., but he didn't do that, but your own strategic assets are sending entire generation of pakistan back to stonage, for your request, the direction is backword., <1400 years behind.
A simple question
Can persons like Hameed Gul and Munawwar Hasan comdem TTP unconditionally???
Failure in stopping terrorism has become a serious issue of the day. power short fall made the people helpless economically, joblessnes support increasing street crimes, and unleashed terrorism had made country's internal situation a signe of interrogation. What should do in such circumstances,newly elected government should think.
Safety and security of the judges must be sure, otherwise people of the state would have deprived from justice.
Where judges of the higher court are not safe. no need to show flexibility last and final order has become indispensable.
The Pakistani Taliban Wednesday claimed responsibility for the bomb attack on Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool’s convoy in Karachi which killed eight security men and injured the judge.
Pakistan is opposing drones,but why? many high ups,famous personalities internationaly recognize in experience and wisdom have described drones the best treatment of terrorims.
Vide the ground situation,present government offered dailogue ,invited to come across the table with respect and discuss on the matter for resolving issue peacefully but they turndown the offer and insisting extremist activities.
It is need of the time to prepare a comprehensive plan to deal with the insurgency which has approached the judges of the apex court.
There must be harmony among the reginal and foreign forces stationed here since long for comprehensive and crucial strike rooting out the terrorists. from bottom.
@Naseer Ahmad: Do you think Pakistani security agencies do not who and where these terrorists are?
Rather than asking: Will our security apparatus be able to significantly reduce terrorism by 2014? you should ask: Will the terrorists be able to eliminate all security agencies by 2014?
Sickening how the takfiri TTP consider themselves as Muslims and Mujahids. These criminal sectarian extremists are the modern day Kharijites.
This is one judge who was clearly doing his job, unlike others in his esteemed profession, who seem to be looking the other way or releasing these militants out of fear or sympathy (either way is a betrayal). They killed the judge while mounting simultaneous terrorist attacks murdering Pakistanis in Bannu and Peshawar as well. The cancer is everywhere.
Is the priorities challenged CJ going to take note of all this, or is he going to agree with TTP's interpretation of being against a 'secular system' too?
Why every one wants to talk with these terrorist,even America want to talk with them.Please take serious action.
@ Farhan The United States Intelligence Agency once intercepted the satellite phone call of Chechen president Dudayev and passed that information to Russia to bomb his hideout.Why don,t the government of pakistan get that the technology for intercepting satelitte phone calls.
It is no surprise that TTP are behind this act of terror. Their long list of crimes exposes their evil objectives against the people of the region. Unfortunately, there are those who choose to side with conspiracy theories and let these repeat offenders off the hook. It is times like these when we should remind ourselves who threatens the safety of the region. It is times like these when conspiracy theorists need to separate facts from fiction. Our forces continue to make sacrifices for the safety of the region. We send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who died in this act of terror. We will not let these cowardly acts of terror deter us from achieving our peace objectives in the region. We will continue to work together and counter terrorism through shared assistance.
Ali Khan
> Cowards.... remote control bahaduri. Cowards
@Aysha M: I can answer your question. Mr. Alvi of PTI is probably too busy buttering up the top leadership of PTI as he tries to make his place in the elite PTI circles if Islamabad. He is too busy to worry about what goes in his constituency (which doesnt just include DHA) where this murder of an honest judge took place, or the city of Karachi overall where Mr. Alvi made so much business; the city whose residents continue to suffer at the hands of those very terrorists with whom Mr. Alvi's great leader (aka great Khan) wants to 'negotiate' with. Not a word of condemnation, let alone visiting. The same city that just recently saw the brutal murder of a namazee, an MPA, coming out of Jumma prayers with a young 25 year old son, at the hands of these same murderers.
Let's talk with them :)
Incompetence of Pakistan Army and Rangers to protect the country and citizens. Could US army or Chinese army provide better service?
@Aysha M: Army is busy in many areas. What did we have elections for?
Also tell the same to Mr. Nabeel Gabol too, who always used to demand for handing over of the city to Army.
Just wondering why is TTP so fond of claiming all the responsibilities ?
i mean doesn't it sound a bit of showing off?
Latest breaking news, TTP claim killing of Liaqat Ali Khan, JF Kennedy and Michael Jackson all three were deemed a threat to their political objectives!
@357: Army is busy in many areas. What did we have elections for? Why cant the elected representatives openly condemn the Taliban acts, do they need Pak army's help to do that
@357:
Because of their own stupidity of considering the Taliban barbarians as their friends and still refusing to take any action against Taliban.
Is this even news? This is like any other day in Pakistan.
These animals will not stop until they take over the state..... They want there way to be established, they are takfari's ... its our war and it has its root way before 9/11and in to zia's grave...shia, sunni's, liberals, non muslims ........ every segment of society are suffering and Govt is busy stalling there scores
And
For modern extremist, high on social media and low on almost every positive mental thing a PTI mumi dady........... they are just taking revenge of some drone attack in N.W, they are as peace full as wali ul rahman mention by ur schizophrenic leader
With the sophistication and advanced technology, the call of Ehsanullah Ehsan can easily be traced. Did he call other networks as well? Why his call NOT being traced? Anyone.
For all zombie-fascists-I suppose we have a new term here- PTI has already bled in KPK. I think. Just look harder. You want rapid reaction, ask your demigod not to oppose military assistance to salvage what remains of this punished city. Army, and not Arif Alvi, is the need of the day.
We strongly condemn on Justise Baqar attack incident God may departed soul rest in eternal peace for all shaheed peoples and and pray to god finish all so called mujahaydeens. Inshallah.
@Hatf XX: Whenever in doubt, blame India? India, itself a victim of terrorism exported from Pakistan, will never support any terrorist activity whatsoever and anywhere in the world! TTP seems to have gone berserk these days!
@Blunt: Dear, all these calls are made from satellite phones otherwise Pakistani agencies could have killed these cowards. Taliban or other terrorists are not idiots as you may think of them.
Mr. Sharif, talk to taliban or take them down, but do it quickly. People are getting killed every passing day.
@Farhan Zaheer: and u really thinhk pervaiz musharaf has got nothing to do with it come on dude....
His name is Maqbool Baqar, not Baqar maqbool.
Oh come on lets talk!! Why are you blowing up people? We just want to talk!
Ehh Immi boy fans? What do you have to say?
It seems that Pakistan is governed by the terrorist organization TTP on the basis of suicude and bomb blasts and not by the Government of Pakistan.
It is a very unfortunate situation.
May God help us. AMEEN.
I urge ET to publish the number from where it received the so claimed call of Ehasanullah Ehsan. Also to provide the same number to ISI, FIA and other investigation agencies, so leads about its genuineness and locality may be traced.
@SHADI: You think they are same thing?
Where is Dr. Arif Alvi? Did he visit the site? Condemn the attack? Is this not his constituency or does he just represent some specific areas of his constituency.
PTI or any of its representatives will not condemn any of these attacks.
People of Karachi do not want those who extend their tacit approval to Taliban operations
Karachi bleeds, while PTI sleeps
so the guy just phones here and there and claims responsibility of every other bombings...and that too after government has agreed to hold talks...seems like someone doesn't like peace in the country!
So, who is Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool? Which case was he handling? Was this sectarian or something to do with a case he was presiding over?
Pardon my ignorance but with soo many bomb blasts, suicide bombings and target/ sectarian killings, it's kinda hard to keep track of who is killing who and why. Appreciate any clarity.
Nawaz sharif, for God's sake, focus on terrorism instead of Musharraf. Our security forces need to focus on terrorism, please support, dont discourage them.
Mush's case can be delayed for a year, the nation expect's something concrete on terrorism policy from this government.
We must be thankful to the Prime Minister Nawaz Saharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif for requesting these people to carry out their acts in areas other than Punjab
SO waiting for PTI , the party ALL for independent judiciary, to at least issue one statement, condemning the attack on My lordship, Justice Baqar Maqbool’s convoy.
Here we go again!
Enuf already, india!!!
Inna lillah wa inna illah rajoon. May departed soul rest in eternal peace. BTW would a 'day of mourning' will be called for deceased poor driver, guard, a police and a Rangers officer?
Its a deplorable act of terrorism, and should be condemned in the hardest possible way. However, I will take the liberty to say that our courts have repeatedly set free these terrorist; some of them well known.
No body seems to be secured now-a-days in Pakistan.
Unless the Government of Pakistan will not take concrete steps to eradicate the menace of terrorism, Pakistan is not going to move an inch ahead, instead it is going back into Stone Age.
It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies and NOT of general public to take care of security situation in the country.
Can any one write and tell me, where are we heading to?
No please go ahead continue talking with Taliban and saying their thinking does not threaten Pakistan or Pakistanis existence :)
In Pakistan, name can explain the whole story.