Peshawar: A teenage Taliban suicide bomber
targeted the chief of a Pakistani paramilitary force here
on Wednesday near the headquarters of the organisation, killing him
and two others and injuring at least 10 more.
The attacker detonated his explosive vest near the car of
Frontier Constabulary Commandant Sifwat Ghayur in Sadar area
of Peshawar.
Ghayur, his driver and a guard were killed instantly in
the attack, which took place close to the paramilitary force's
headquarters.
At least four of the 10 people injured were in serious
condition, doctors treating them at the Lady Reading Hospital
said.
The bomber struck just as Ghayur's car drove out of the
Frontier Constabulary headquarters.
Dramatic footage aired on a TV news channel showed the
bomber coolly walking up to Ghayur's car, which had stopped at
a traffic light, and detonating his explosives.
A bright flash was followed by a thick cloud of smoke
that billowed into the sky. The blast was heard over a large
distance.
Three cars and a scooter were damaged by the explosion,
which also blew out the windows of nearby buildings.
The blast, for which Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed
responsibility, also sparked a fire at a nearby petrol pump.
Witnesses said they had seen the head of the suspected
bomber, described as a teenager, lying at the site of the
blast.
Senior Minister Bashir Bilour, a leader of the Awami
National Party that rules Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said the
terrorists had targeted a brave police officer.
Ghayur, the brother-in-law of former Interior Minister
and PPP-Sherpao party chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, was
known for personally leading operations against the Taliban
and other militant groups.
He had earlier served as the police chief of Peshawar
when the city was repeatedly targeted by the Taliban in a
string of car bombings and suicide attacks.
Ghayur had been facing threats from militants for a long
time, officials said.
Ghayur was the third police officer of the rank of DIG to
be killed in an incident of terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
DIG (Bannu range) Abid Ali was killed by militants near
Peshawar while Peshawar police chief Malik Saad was
assassinated in a suicide attack during Muharram some time
ago.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the suicide
attack, saying: "It is most deplorable that when the whole
nation, particularly the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, are
facing worst difficulties because of floods, the terrorists
have chosen to add to their miseries through such inhuman
acts."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 04, 2010, 20:13