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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| 15 Dead in red on red Pak Shia Mosque Blast |
| 2004-05-31 |
| KARACHI: At least 15 people were killed and scores injured in a bomb blast in a Shi’ite mosque here on Monday. The blast occurred during mughrib (evening prayers) at the Ali Raza mosque adjacent to the Imambargah located near M A Jinnah Road. Someone’s prayer was answered. Thanks Allan. The area was cordoned off following the explosion, which caused considerable damage to the mosque. The mosque is situated only a kilometer away from where Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, a senior cleric from the country’s majority Sunni sect, was killed by unidentified assailants on Sunday. Note that as a target rich environment According to eyewitnesses, the bomb was hidden in a polythene bag. The explosion was so powerful that it caused cracks in the concrete dome of the mosque. Yes, officer, just before the explosion I noticed a polytheme bad that looked as if it did not bvelong there. I went to the white courtesy telephone but didn’t get there in time. The mosque’s floor and wall were splattered with blood and rescue workers were seen collecting limbs and pieces of human flesh scattered all over the place. The dead and injured were rushed to various hospitals in the city. Police said a 10-year-old child was among the dead. But no infidels? Incompetents! An angry mob immediately gathered outside the mosque and went on a rampage, burning a filling station and exchanging fire with police, witnesses said. How do they know they were an angry mob? The could have been celebrating. Perhaps they had just come back from a wedding party. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the clashes. But we’ll keep our fingers crossed. Pakistan’s information minister Sheikh Rashid said that President Pervez Musharraf was gravely concerned over the recurring attacks in the country’s commercial hub and largest city. "If the situation is not brought under control, the President told me that he will take major decisions very soon," Rashid said, without elaborating. Everybody pack up. You’re moving to Waziristan. Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai’s assassination triggered violent protests and incidents of arson in Binouri area, where authorities had deployed heavy contingents of police and paramilitary rangers to contain the unrest. They must have learned tactics from the Soddys. The city has been gripped by violence since May 7, when a suicide bomb blast at a Shiite mosque killed 23 worshippers and injured around 100 others. On May 25, parcel bombs killed two people at the city’s port and on May 26, two successive car bombs near the US consul-general’s residence killed a policeman and injured 32 people. Practice, practice, practice. |
| Posted by:Mr. Davis |
| #9 Whether Shia or Sunni, the so-called moderate Muslims better get their s--t together and keep their religion from being hijacked by the radicals. If they do not, they are all going down. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Cooper Landing, AK 2004-05-31 10:56:30 PM |
| #8 The Shia are traditionally merchants and traders. Hence, they see the need to be both informed and to value marketable skills. Part of the problem is that Iran is following the Wahabi playbook - pushing shia orthodoxy and a cult of martyrdom. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-05-31 8:29:15 PM |
| #7 Mr Davis - I can offer $0.02... in SA, both in 1992-93 and 2000-2003, the Shia (the down-trodden sect there with the Sunnis in charge) were on average exceptional in technical skills, relative to the Sunni Saudis, and much more prone to approach and interact with Westerners. I was very surprised, too, on the first tour! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-05-31 8:21:26 PM |
| #6 I remember '79 so it's hard for me to buy that the Shia in Iran have positive feelings for the US except as a result of 25 years under the Mullahs. Somehow I suspect that would change 25 days after the Mullahs are gone. But I respect everything I've read from you, so I'll keep an open mind on the subject. |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-05-31 8:09:30 PM |
| #5 Most of the Shia in Iran have positive feelings for America, most of the Shia in Iraq did too until recently, and there are still many there who like you. The Pakistani Shias are the enemies of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Jihadis due to constant sectarian killings, so they would make natural allies against the Wahabis. |
| Posted by: Paul Moloney 2004-05-31 7:58:38 PM |
| #4 The Shia in Iraqn are not our friends. The Shia in Iraq are not our friends. Why are the Shia in Pakistan different? |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-05-31 7:37:16 PM |
| #3 What makes you think the Pakistani Shias are our enemies? |
| Posted by: Paul Moloney 2004-05-31 7:19:28 PM |
| #2 MQM party under siege in Karachi. http://www.mqm.com/ |
| Posted by: Dog Bites Trolls 2004-05-31 6:49:59 PM |
| #1 dirtball baby-killers killing other dirt-ball babykillers in one of their own "holy" places. How many virgins do you get for that?? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-05-31 6:18:08 PM |