Security
Pakistan: Heavy casualties in suicide attack in northwest
Peshawar, 22 May (AKI) - At least 10 people were killed and more than 75 were critically injured when a massive car bomb exploded outside a cinema in Peshawar, in Pakistan's troubled northwest. The bomb attack occurred at around 8 pm local time when at least 36 people were inside the cinema.
The suicide bombing is believed to be part of a militant backlash against the government's continuing military operation in the Swat district of North West Frontier Province.
No-one had claimed responsibility for the attack late Friday.
But Senator Zahid Khan, a leader of the secular Awami National Party, told a local TV channel that the incident was carried out by members of the Taliban who slipped out of Swat and were blending in with local people.
Political parties in other Pakistani cities have also become concerned.
The sub-nationalist Sindhi organisation Jeay Sindh and others have called a strike for Saturday to protest against the arrival of displaced people in Sindh province.
"The strike call has been made by Sindhi nationalist organisations," former MP and senior leader of Muttehida Quami Movement, Kanwar Khalid Younus told Adnkronos International (AKI) by telephone.
"We have not made the call but we do share reservations about the arrival of these people. We have information that at least 60 buses are destined for Karachi and we do not know how many are real refugees and how many are Taliban in the garb of displaced people."
The United Nations' refugee agency said on Friday more than 1.7 million people are now homeless after fleeing the recent fighting between Islamist militants and the military in regions in the northwest.
The UN has launched a 543 million dollar appeal for people displaced by fighting since the beginning of May in Lower Dir, Buner and Swat districts.
Kanwar Khalid Younus reiterated the parties' support for the displaced to be kept in a refugee camp and properly identified.
"Otherwise they will play havoc in Karachi which is the largest city of the country and its financial artery," he said.
"If they encroach on our land in the city and establish their sanctuaries, it would turn this cosmopolitan centre into a militant hotbed."
The MQM is a coalition party in the federal and provincial governments and also runs the city government of Karachi. It is considered the largest urban party of Sindh province.
The suicide bombing is believed to be part of a militant backlash against the government's continuing military operation in the Swat district of North West Frontier Province.
No-one had claimed responsibility for the attack late Friday.
But Senator Zahid Khan, a leader of the secular Awami National Party, told a local TV channel that the incident was carried out by members of the Taliban who slipped out of Swat and were blending in with local people.
Political parties in other Pakistani cities have also become concerned.
The sub-nationalist Sindhi organisation Jeay Sindh and others have called a strike for Saturday to protest against the arrival of displaced people in Sindh province.
"The strike call has been made by Sindhi nationalist organisations," former MP and senior leader of Muttehida Quami Movement, Kanwar Khalid Younus told Adnkronos International (AKI) by telephone.
"We have not made the call but we do share reservations about the arrival of these people. We have information that at least 60 buses are destined for Karachi and we do not know how many are real refugees and how many are Taliban in the garb of displaced people."
The United Nations' refugee agency said on Friday more than 1.7 million people are now homeless after fleeing the recent fighting between Islamist militants and the military in regions in the northwest.
The UN has launched a 543 million dollar appeal for people displaced by fighting since the beginning of May in Lower Dir, Buner and Swat districts.
Kanwar Khalid Younus reiterated the parties' support for the displaced to be kept in a refugee camp and properly identified.
"Otherwise they will play havoc in Karachi which is the largest city of the country and its financial artery," he said.
"If they encroach on our land in the city and establish their sanctuaries, it would turn this cosmopolitan centre into a militant hotbed."
The MQM is a coalition party in the federal and provincial governments and also runs the city government of Karachi. It is considered the largest urban party of Sindh province.
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