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| Bomb kills senior Pakistan cleric | Bomb kills senior Pakistan cleric |
| (about 2 hours 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 the 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 the suicide bomber managed to get inside and detonate explosives. |
| In pictures: Pakistan blasts | |
| 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. |
| Mr Naeemi's son, Waqar, was close by when the bomber struck. | Mr Naeemi's son, Waqar, was close by when the bomber struck. |
| "I was still in the mosque when I heard a big bang. We rushed toward the office and there was a smell of explosives in the air. There was blood and several people were crying in pain," the Associated Press reported him as saying. | "I was still in the mosque when I heard a big bang. We rushed toward the office and there was a smell of explosives in the air. There was blood and several people were crying in pain," the Associated Press reported him as saying. |
| Images emerged from the scene of significant damage to the office where the explosives were detonated. | Images emerged from the scene of significant damage to the office where the explosives were detonated. |
| Sarfraz Naeemi was also shown on a stretcher, his clothes and beard spattered with masonry dust. | Sarfraz Naeemi was also shown on a stretcher, his clothes and beard spattered with masonry dust. |
| A leading Sunni Muslim scholar opposed to the Taliban, Mr Naeemi was known for his outspoken views against suicide bombings and militancy. | A leading Sunni Muslim scholar opposed to the Taliban, Mr Naeemi was known for his outspoken views against suicide bombings and militancy. |
| My father used to say that I have got one life to live and I will dedicate it to my nation, the police, the army and the prophet Raghib Naeemi Son of murdered cleric | |
| 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 took part in a conference of Islamic scholars, convened by the government in May, which criticised suicide attacks and the beheading of innocent Muslims as un-Islamic. | Mr Naeemi took part in a conference of Islamic scholars, convened by the government in May, which criticised suicide attacks and the beheading of innocent Muslims as un-Islamic. |
| He also told the media that the Taliban were "misusing" religion for their activities and were bringing a bad name to the Islamic faith. | He also told the media that the Taliban were "misusing" religion for their activities and were bringing a bad name to the Islamic faith. |
| He reportedly refused to have guards at his madrassa, saying it would restrict the entry of people into a place "where all should come freely". | He reportedly refused to have guards at his madrassa, saying it would restrict the entry of people into a place "where all should come freely". |
| Appeal for calm | |
| The scholar's other son, Raghib, said his father had been "threatened for opposing the Taliban". | |
| The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad | |
| Sarfraz Naeemi was outspoken when it came to the Taliban, calling them "a stigma on Islam" in a recent interview with the Times of London. | |
| He was at the helm of a newly-formed council of 22 Islamic groups opposed to the Taliban. | |
| Dr Naeemi lived a spartan lifestyle with his family and those who knew him personally spoke of him as a straightforward and honest man. | |
| He reportedly used an old motorbike to get about in an age when most religious scholars of his standing commanded a fleet of the latest vehicles. | |
| The Jamia Naeemia, which Sarfraz Naeemi ran, is one of the largest madrassas in the Pakistan and is seen as highly progressive. | |
| The madrassa embraces modern technology and even has a fully-fledged computer lab. | |
| "But my father used to say that I have got one life to live and I will dedicate it to my nation, the police, the army and the prophet," Raghib said. | "But my father used to say that I have got one life to live and I will dedicate it to my nation, the police, the army and the prophet," Raghib said. |
| He appealed for calm among his father's supporters, adding: "Very soon a common strategy will be announced." | He appealed for calm among his father's supporters, adding: "Very soon a common strategy will be announced." |
| The other attack, in Nowshera, took place in a military high-security zone, close to an armed forces supply depot. | The other attack, in Nowshera, took place in a military high-security zone, close to an armed forces supply depot. |
| At almost exactly the same time 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. | At almost exactly the same time 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. | 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, there is no confirmed death toll. | Reports say several dozen worshippers, including members of the armed forces, have been injured. However, there is no confirmed death toll. |
| The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says the attacks expose the inability of Pakistan's security forces to halt Taliban retaliation for the offensive against them. | The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says the attacks expose the inability of Pakistan's security forces to halt Taliban retaliation for the offensive against them. |
| 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 |