2008 Lal Masjid bombing
Encyclopedia
In the Lal Masjid bombing of July 6, 2008 at 7:50 pm local time, a 30-year old suicide bomber blew himself up near the Lal Masjid mosque in Islamabad
, the capital of Pakistan
, killing 18 policemen and 1 civilian. The bombing occurred on the first anniversary of the Siege of Lal Masjid
and was likely a revenge attack. The attack occurred even amid tight security in Islamabad
, where thousands of Islamic students in Pakistan came to mark the day when Pakistani troops stormed Lal Masjid. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik
, who visited the blast site, said about 12,000 students attended the rally and the attack was directed at police.
Cabinet Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
said "This was a heinous act of cowardice perpetuated by terrorists, and we condemn it in the strongest terms," adding "Terrorism cannot and will not win. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and our sympathies to the Pakistani government and people." - Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
's spokesperson, Michele Montas
said "The Secretary-General urges all political forces to unite against the scourge of terrorism and expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Pakistan."
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, the capital of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, killing 18 policemen and 1 civilian. The bombing occurred on the first anniversary of the Siege of Lal Masjid
Siege of Lal Masjid
The siege of Lal Masjid was a confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the Government of Pakistan led by General Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz Administration, then Prime minister of Pakistan...
and was likely a revenge attack. The attack occurred even amid tight security in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, where thousands of Islamic students in Pakistan came to mark the day when Pakistani troops stormed Lal Masjid. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
, who visited the blast site, said about 12,000 students attended the rally and the attack was directed at police.
Domestic reaction
- Minister for Information and Broadcasting - Sherry Rehman said the "government would never tolerate such acts and the perpetrators would be taken to task. Neither our religion nor any welfare state allows such acts. This is a hopeless attempt by those against the country and the democracy."
- Tehrik-e-Taliban - A senior Taliban official was quoted as saying, "We are holding consultations. Once our top leadership gives instruction, then the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP] will issue a statement about the bomb blast in Islamabad." But he also added, "Taliban too were angered by the onslaught against Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid. We cannot forget what happened there."
International reaction
- The Foreign Affairs Adviser of the InterimInterim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
Cabinet Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury was Adviser for the Foreign Ministry to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh from January 2007 to January 2009. In addition, he was also given the portfolios of the Ministries of Expatriates' Welfare and Chittagong Hill Tracts....
said "This was a heinous act of cowardice perpetuated by terrorists, and we condemn it in the strongest terms," adding "Terrorism cannot and will not win. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and our sympathies to the Pakistani government and people." - Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
's spokesperson, Michele Montas
Michèle Montas
Michèle Montas is an award-winning journalist from Haiti and the former Spokesperson under UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon . Prior to her appointment, Montas headed the French unit of UN Radio...
said "The Secretary-General urges all political forces to unite against the scourge of terrorism and expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Pakistan."
- FICA - Federation of International Cricketers' AssociationsFederation of International Cricketers' AssociationsThe Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations is an organisation that co-ordinates the activities of all the national players’ associations that represent professional cricketers...
(FICA) chief Tim MayTim MayTimothy Brian Alexander May is a former cricketer for South Australia and Australia, who is currently a leading players' representative in his role as Chief Executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations...
was quoted as saying, "FICA is very concerned about the inherent risks of holding such an event in Pakistan in such a landscape of unrest and volatility and opposition to western countries."