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| Nazim among 15 killed in suicide hit near Peshawar |
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Monday, November 09, 2009
42 injured; Taliban claim responsibility; president, PM slam attack
By Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: Fifteen people, including the Nazim of the Adezai Union Council, were killed and 42 others sustained injuries in a suicide attack near the Matani cattle market, some 25 kilometres from here, on Sunday.
Nazim Abdul Malik had survived over 20 attacks on his vehicle, house and Hujra since he had parted ways with the militants in October last year. This time, the terrorists succeeded in targeting the man who had raised an armed Lashkar of villagers to support the government against the militants.
Omar, who identified himself as a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the area, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Abdul Malik was punished for raising the Lashkar against them.
Peshawar District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sahibzada Muhammad Anis confirmed the death of 13 people in the suicide attack on Abdul Malik, saying 35 others sustained injuries. Noor Malik, the son of the Nazim, is also among the wounded.
“Police officials are investigating why the Nazim had left his home without his own security personnel as well as those provided to him by the government,” said the DCO. He said the Nazim was provided sufficient security while he was also issued permits so that his private bodyguards could also carry weapons.
Those killed in the blast included Abdul Malik, a three-year-old girl Noreen, Raz Muhammad, Noor Muhammad,Noorullah, Ali Ahmad, Aziz Khan, Rahimullah, Awal Khan, Nizam, Noor Din and Dilawar.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Operations, Karim Khan, said around 10 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack. An eyewitness told The News that as Abdul Malik came out of his vehicle, along with son Noor Malik and other people in the Ittefaq Chowk near the Sunday cattle market in Matani, a suicide bomber ran towards him.
“Dilawar, a guard of the Nazim, tried to overpower the man running towards Abdul Malik when the bomber in his early 20s detonated explosives strapped around his waist,” said Muhammad Naeem, who was in the market to buy a cow. He added that the guard also opened fire on the bomber before he blew himself up.
Twelve cattle heads were also killed in the explosion while six vehicles and six nearby shops were damaged. Ghufran, an eyewitness, said people in the nearby shops and cattle market ran for their lives as thick smoke engulfed the market after the huge blast. “We could not see anything for a while and then we saw the Nazim and other people lying on the ground with their bodies smashed,” the villager added.
Safiullah, a villager, recalled that people rushed towards their cars and took the bodies and those wounded to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar, before the ambulances could arrive at the spot.
According to an official of the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), the bomber used around 10 kilograms of explosives in the attack. “Most of the casualties were caused by the ball bearings that the bomber had stuffed in a large number in the suicide vest,” the official said. Emergency was declared at the LRH where people rushed the bodies and those wounded in the blast. Six injured persons were in critical condition.
Strict security measures were adopted in Adezai village during the funeral prayers of Abdul Malik and others killed in the blast. Moving scenes were witnessed on the occasion. The Lashkar members vowed to avenge the killing of their leader. They have already challenged the militants from the nearby Darra Adamkhel as well as Khyber Agency after attacks on Matani and nearby Badaber during the recent months.
Abdul Malik had come under attack on numerous occasions during the past 13 months. The government later encouraged the Adezai Nazim to raise a Lashkar of his villagers to counter any attack by the Taliban based in nearby Darra Adamkhel. Several of his relatives, Lashkar members and villagers were killed in fighting with the militants during the past many months.
His rivals in the town, belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, had ended enmity with Abdul Malik and joined hands with him against the militants. Also, the Lashkar, led by late Abdul Malik, was having a close coordination with another Lashkar, headed by Nazim Union Council Bazidkhel Fahimur Rahman and another one supported by Deputy Speaker of NWFP Assembly Khushdil Khan in Badaber.
Fahim was also attacked on a number of occasions by the Taliban while Khushdil Khan has received threats on several occasions from the militants for raising voice against them. The Matani police have registered a case against unknown attackers.
APP adds: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have strongly condemned the suicide attack in Matani.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
