 Pakistani bomb disposal experts defused two ready-to-fire rockets apparently aimed at President Musharraf hours after an explosion near his home. The Russian made rockets were fixed to launchers and wired to a mobile phone, a likely remote triggering device. They were hidden in bushes at a construction site a third of a mile from parliament and the presidential office in Islamabad's high security zone. The missiles were defused just before General Musharraf addressed a conference commemorating the first anniversary of last year's earthquake at a nearby convention hall.
| Quite the fortunate coincidence, isn't it? |
| “He entered the hall surrounded by half dozen army commandos.” |
Pakistan was already on high alert after rumours of a coup swept the country when General Musharraf was out of the country last month and security around him has been visibly heightened. He arrived at tonightÂ’s event by helicopter after three heavily guarded but empty motorcades had swept up as decoys. He entered the hall surrounded by half dozen army commandos.
| "Fearless Leader squared his tin hat. His jaw set, his eyes flinty, he waved a hand. 'C'mon, lads! Let them try what they will! I'm safe with youse!'" |
Late last night security forces scrambled to an explosion at a park near the Army House in Rawalpindi, which is General MusharrafÂ’s official residence. The blast was reportedly caused by a rocket fire.
| Coincidentally reminding us all just how close we are to seeing our beloved Perv wink out of existence, to seeing Qazi or Fazl or Liaqat Baloch take power in Pakland. Oh, where would we be then? |
Major General Shaukat Sultan, the very model of a modern major general chief military spokesman said some explosive material was found at the site. The rockets which were pointed towards General MusharrafÂ’s office at the Presidency, were first spotted by workers at the construction site.
| Oh, what a fortunate coincidence! |
The area was cordoned off by the police and army troops. Police detained more than 80 people, most of them the labourers at the site, for questioning. The President did not refer to either incident in his speech. The two incidents have sparked fears about the President who had survived a series of assassination attempts over the last five years since he aligned himself with the United States in the War on Terror. |