Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday strongly condemned
the terrorist attack near the residence of a minister in the
northwestern city of Peshawar.
An official examines the site of
a suicide bombing in Peshawar November 9, 2007. A suicide bomber
killed two police guards on Friday, blowing himself up as he was
stopped trying to enter the home of a government minister, police
said.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Aziz said that such cowardly act of violence would not deter the
government's commitment to combat extremism and violence.
The people of Pakistan, he said, need to stand up to discourage
such irrational behavior, since the atmosphere need to be
improved.
The prime minister directed the provincial government and local
authorities to extend all possible assistance to those who have
been injured in this unfortunate incident.
According to local press reports, a blast occurred near the
house of Amir Muqam, who is the federal minister for political
affairs and the president of the northwestern provincial branch
ofthe ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q).
Muqam, who is intact in the blast said, "My elder brother is
among the injured."
Police sources were quoted as saying that at least five people
were injured in the blast.
A suicide bomber blew himself up with a grenade after trying to
enter Muqam's house and being stopped by security personnel.
Soon afterwards, the residence of the minister has been
vacated.
According to a police officer, there was a meeting in progress
at the time of the suicide attack. After the blast, the security
cordon has been put around the area.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)
