Pakistan: Suicide Bombings in Lahore and Nowshera

In Lahore explosion eminent religious scholar Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi was killed

by Azhar Masood

June 13, 2009

Students mourn the killing of Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi in Lahore (Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)

ISLAMABAD, June 12 — Pakistan’s two cities Lahore and Nowshera were subjected to suicide bombings after Friday prayers.

In Lahore,  Jamia Naeemia was attacked by a suicide bomber. The explosion almost destroyed Naeemia Mosque. The Cleric of the Mosque,  Sarfraz Naeemi, was badly injured and rushed to hospital in critical condition. He died at the hospital.

Sarfaraz Naeemi had supported the government’s action in Swat against  the Taliban. The blast occurred as people were making their way out of the mosque after offering the Friday prayers.

Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi was present at his office at the Jamia Naeemia, eyewitnesses said. The blast was so powerful that the outer wall of the Jamia Naeemia Masjid collapsed.

In Nowshehra, a mosque located near Army Services Corps Centre was subjected to an attack. The impact of the blast caused severe damage to the building. Eyewitnesses said the explosion took place during Friday prayers. The district police said the mosque was attacked by a suicide bomber and that so far three people were reported killed.

At midnight on Thursday and during the early hours of Friday, hand grenades were hurled and there was indiscriminate firing from a number of vehicles at the Khyber Road of Peshawar not far from the Pearl Continental Hotel, which was attacked last Sunday.

The latest reports from Peshawar indicate that police, Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, and units of the Pakistan Army have encircled Khyber Road. In an exchange of fire, two people were reported killed.

North West Frontier Province Information Minister Mian Iftikhar told media that one person was confirmed killed but his body could not be recovered due to the intense exchange of fire.

It is not clear who the attackers were, but it appears they attempted to create a panic within residential areas of Peshawar. By 1:30 (PST), the Army’s units had brought the situation under control, but some shots continued to be heard.

Azhar Masood received his Masters in International Relations from the University of Karachi in 1971. During the 1980's, he reported on the Afghan war for Arab News and other news organizations. Throughout the 90's, he covered numerous conflicts and events relating to international affairs, including the war in Bosnia. He covered both the U.S. wars on Afghanistan and Iraq from within the countries and his services have been hired by the New York Times, Newsweek, and CNN, BBC, Fox News, and al-Jazeera, among others. He is currently based in Islamabad and is in charge of special tasks and assignments for PTV. Read more articles by Azhar Masood.