This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8096776.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Bomb kills senior Pakistan cleric | Bomb kills senior Pakistan cleric |
(20 minutes later) | |
A leading anti-Taliban cleric has been killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack at his Islamic religious school in the Pakistani city of Lahore. | A leading anti-Taliban cleric has been killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack at his Islamic religious school in the Pakistani city of Lahore. |
The explosion struck the Jaamia Naeemia madrassa around the time of Friday prayers, killing Sarfraz Naeemi, who often spoke out against militants. | The explosion struck the Jaamia Naeemia madrassa around the time of Friday prayers, killing Sarfraz Naeemi, who often spoke out against militants. |
Another blast hit a mosque close to a military depot in the north-western garrison town of Nowshera. | Another blast hit a mosque close to a military depot in the north-western garrison town of Nowshera. |
At least six people were reported dead in the simultaneous suicide attacks. | At least six people were reported dead in the simultaneous suicide attacks. |
The attacks come as Pakistan's army is broadening its offensive against the Taliban in north-western areas following gains made in the Swat valley area. | The attacks come as Pakistan's army is broadening its offensive against the Taliban in north-western areas following gains made in the Swat valley area. |
Swat supporter | Swat supporter |
In Lahore, the senior cleric at the Jaamia Naeemia madrassa, Sarfraz Naeemi, was greeting visitors in his office after Friday prayers when suicide bomber managed to get inside and detonate explosives. | In Lahore, the senior cleric at the Jaamia Naeemia madrassa, Sarfraz Naeemi, was greeting visitors in his office after Friday prayers when suicide bomber managed to get inside and detonate explosives. |
He was seriously injured and was said to have died on his way to hospital. | He was seriously injured and was said to have died on his way to hospital. |
A spokesman for the madrassa confirmed that Mr Naeemi had been killed by the blast. There were other reports of injuries. | A spokesman for the madrassa confirmed that Mr Naeemi had been killed by the blast. There were other reports of injuries. |
A leading Sunni Muslim scholar opposed to the Taliban, he was known for his outspoken views against suicide bombings and militancy. | A leading Sunni Muslim scholar opposed to the Taliban, he was known for his outspoken views against suicide bombings and militancy. |
He was one of the few scholars who had openly supported the ongoing military operation in Swat and had labelled the activities of the Taliban "un-Islamic". | He was one of the few scholars who had openly supported the ongoing military operation in Swat and had labelled the activities of the Taliban "un-Islamic". |
Mr Naeemi was part of a conference of Islamic scholars, convened by the government in May, criticising suicide attacks and the beheading of innocent Muslims as un-Islamic. | |
He also told the media that Taliban were "misusing" religion for their activities and were bringing a bad name to the Islamic faith. | |
North-western unrest | North-western unrest |
The other attack, in Nowshera, took place in a military high-security zone, close to an armed forces supply depot. | |
The north-west has become a focal point in the fight against the Taliban | |
Almost exactly as the bomber killed Sarfraz Naeemi in Lahore, a van drove up to the gate of a mosque compound during Friday prayers before the driver detonated the explosives. | Almost exactly as the bomber killed Sarfraz Naeemi in Lahore, a van drove up to the gate of a mosque compound during Friday prayers before the driver detonated the explosives. |
The blast was so powerful that the roof of the mosque collapsed, with many people now feared to be buried under the debris. | |
Reports say several dozen worshippers, including members of the armed forces, have been injured. However, so far there are no confirmed figures of deaths. | |
The BBC's Shoiab Hasan, in Islamabad, says both attacks expose the inability of Pakistan's security forces to stop such retaliation attacks from taking place. | The BBC's Shoiab Hasan, in Islamabad, says both attacks expose the inability of Pakistan's security forces to stop such retaliation attacks from taking place. |
As the army's operations continue in Pakistan's north-west it is expected that such incidents may become more frequent. | As the army's operations continue in Pakistan's north-west it is expected that such incidents may become more frequent. |
Nowshera is close to Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, which has itself recently been struck by bomb blasts. | Nowshera is close to Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, which has itself recently been struck by bomb blasts. |
The deadliest attack, on the city's luxurious Pearl Continental hotel, killed at least 18 people on Tuesday. | The deadliest attack, on the city's luxurious Pearl Continental hotel, killed at least 18 people on Tuesday. |
Are you in Lahore or Nowshera? Have you witnessed the explosions? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Lahore or Nowshera? Have you witnessed the explosions? Send us your comments using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |