Policemen inspect the site of a bomb explosion in Islamabad on April 3, 2014. The bomb was planted on Musharraf's route from an army hospital where he has been staying since January to his home on the outskirts of Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP
The former military ruler was on his way to Chak Shahzad farmhouse from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, where he has been staying since January 2, when the bomb went off.
Nobody was injured and there have so far been no claims of responsibility.
"Four kilogrammes of explosive material - planted in a pipeline under a bridge - exploded around 20 minutes before the former president was supposed to cross the spot," senior police official Liaqat Niazi said.
The blast occurred at the Faizabad interchange, which lies at the boundary of the twin cities, and destroyed a footpath around two metres wide.
Niazi said the former president was then taken home via an alternative route.
Muhammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Islamabad police, confirmed the incident, saying a bomb disposal squad had cleared the area after the blast.
"Nobody was injured in the blast," he said, adding Musharraf was the intended target.
On March 31, the Special Court had formally charged Musharraf for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. The former army chief had appeared before the three-judge bench and had rejected all charges against him.
Read about the five charges levelled against Musharraf here.
Explosives planted
This is the fifth time that explosive material was found from places close to either the former army chief’s accommodation or his travel route.
• On January 1, explosives with three electronic circuits and remote control were found on the route scheduled to be taken to Special Court by the former president. The police had said 1kg of explosives was planted near the Chak Shehzad traffic signal on Park Road.
• On December 30, 2013 five packets each containing 0.5kg explosives were found near Musharraf’s farmhouse in the jurisdiction of the Bani Gala police station.
• On December 24, the day Musharraf was to appear before a specially-constituted court that is hearing a treason trial against him, a five-kilo Improvised Explosive Device was found in a briefcase along the route the former dictator would have taken to reach the court. Musharraf failed to show up for that hearing citing security concerns. A detonator was also found in one of the packets, police said, citing the Bomb Disposal Squad which was called to the spot after police were alerted.
• On April 23, 2013, an explosive-laden car was found outside the farmhouse. The police had claimed the car was meant to target the former president’s convoy on his return from an anti-terrorism court from Rawalpindi.
COMMENTS (43)
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How can a society function where there are so many bombers and IED experts running around. And doctors and others professionals are daily shot dead. Only God can save us now. Hopelessness and helplessness reigns supreme.
the fact that the bomb exploded 20 minutes before Musharraf's convey reached the spot is proof enough that it was carried out by his supporters to create sympathy for him which would lead to his name being removed from the "Exit Control List", and allow him to exit the country forever.
dramay bazi jari hai. thank God this time they did not kill civilians....
@Candid1: Are you saying that Musharraf was responsible for BB killing?
Military is behind these attempts. Military officials were tried under COURT MARTIAL in previous attempts. How will military save HER face for providing undue protection to MUSH in hospital?
Okay this script is now looking too much like a B movie.
Let the man be and do not create monsters that are only present in Paranoia.or in Ford Hood.
Rex Minor
People who would Musharraf out are no amateurs. All those parties are exceptionally powerful and very good at these kind of things. These people do not fail 5 times in a row .. unless they want to. Whoever this is, is not trying to take him out at least that is very clear now.
I guess the inspiration comes from any cheap and third-grade bollywood movie. Contains all elements of excitement. Personal sickness, bomb blasts, assisination attempts, court appearances, shouting inept lawyers, motherly love, failed attempts to escape etc. etc. Never a dull moment but nothing achieved at the end....
.........this is becoming monotonously predictable.
Why the other pakistanis / victims are not as lucky as musharraf is.
Attempt is to save Musharraf not to kill him. This ia a drama so that let Musharraf not attend court proceeding
ISI Planted this. dont ask why.
Survived, as usual
@Islooboy: Grow up Islooboy ..atleast try to be Islooman!!
Some agencies are working overtime to fly out the General which is quite evident from the today's bomb blast and earlier unsuccessful attempts on his life.
@Fact;: The single fact that pakistanis where better off at the time of musharraf has much more credibility instead of politicians hiding behind these papers called constitution !!! Com'on look in your neighborhood how many angels live their ?? The only solution to pakistans problems is the army - at least for as long as we don't produce "real" leaders who are independent of religious and ethnic bounds !!
@Islooboy, oh wow, and agencies must have told you that or was it revealed to you by angels?
Bomb ought to have been planted by the Agencies to show that there is a great threat to his security and hence he may be allowed to go to foreign.
@Mohammad: •All you were telling him coward and running away from LAW! Slap on your face by yourself. I wish Musharraf get his name clear and get out of Pakistan… leave everyone on their and politician’s fate. Seems like everyone is enjoying the fruits of since last 7 years of Democracy.
@Fact: and judiciary isn't making fool to anyone? Don't let predujice blind you!
Our "Hassas Idaray" want to pressurize the govt to let him leave the country. Benazir was not so lucky unfortunately! She was still assassinated although she mentioned serious concerns on her security, also faced a failed assassination attempt in Karachi. But this commando intentionally or unintentionally neglected her appeals and flaws in her security. Now history is repeating itself. The same commando put another elected prime minister in exile. Lets see whose fate will become his fate? Benazir's or Nawaz's? Time will tell that if Mush's buddies can save him or not, but one thing for sure; "In Pakistan, only poors and powerless can be held accountable by Law".
Honestly; does Mush and his team think people of this country are fools. What did the investigation of finding explosive materials on his rout to court lead to. And what about the dear Doctors of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology who kept him in hospital for over two months and then gave meaningless reports; how do you feel now that he has left for his farmhouse after the court excused his personal attendance. All citizens are equal for the law.
It seems so lame! totally staged. Only 4 kg of explosives and no suicide bomber?? Are you kidding me? 4 kg of explosives can do no harm to his bomb proof vehicle....About 200 kg of explosives used in Chaudhry Aslam's assassination (reported by ET) and here just 4 kg and the poor timing on top of it....hahaha @Mohammed I think you are the one who need to open his tightly closed eyes my dear!
@Fact;: open your eyes man.. open your eyes... !
This is what he has explained to court! no one was believing him that Musharraf is trying to escape the court..... He told court that due to security reasons where many innocent lives are at danger and his health are the main issue for not appearing in the court.
Musharraf is constantly telling everyone about threats to his life but no one care - Musharraf has such a rooted relations in Army that still he might be getting ISI briefing about his security.
Mushy must now use his commando training and... RUN !
Jissay Allah Rakhay usssay kon chakhay! He has survived so many attempts.
Allah may protect General..he is an asset to Pakistan.
Assassination attempt and survive....what a fool strategy.......how the agencies making the judiciary fool now. Such rubber attempts are the agencies tactics to protect and some how find the way to let him go. As for as the army and agencies are playing and making fool the institutions and public until that Pakistan and system will remains static and in crisis.
Brace yourself, Dirty games from powerful lobbies are coming.
If Musharraf is assassinated then it will be the judiciary and the Nawaz govt. who will be responsible.
This is very suspicious considering that the bomb went off a good bit before Musharraf was supposed to pass through the area. Sounds like this is another one of those stage-managed "bombing" attempt by Mush's agency friends.