Suicide blast in Pakistan
January 26, A suicide bomber tried to storm a five-star hotel, near to the presidency in Islamabad, killing himself and a security guard and injuring seven others before an hour of the reception. The reception to be hosted there by Indian high commissioner Satyabrata Pal to celebrate the Republic Day.
This reception was hosted at the Marriot Hotel in the heart of the city, where Pakistan’s education minister and former ISI chief Asharaff Jahangir Qazi was the chief guest. Over a hundred guests, including top Pakistani officials, important personalities, members of the diplomatic corpse and journalists attended the event.
Immediately, a red alert was declared by the Pakistan government in all the important cities in the country. The Pakistan President Parvez Musharaf strongly condemned the blast and ordered an immediate inquiry. He said that all-out efforts were made to bring to book the prepetrators of the attack.
Aftab Khan Sherpao, Interior Minister, told the media that a suicide bomber tried to enter the heavily protected hotel through the emergency exit. He also said that when the suicide bomber stopped by the security guard, he set off the eplosives starpped to his body.
Seven persons were injured in the explosion and several cars were damaged in the parking area. Some of the injured were in critical condition in the hospital. The security guard Mahammed Tariq was identified by the officials.
