ABU DHABI & DUBAI — Too shocked to react to Pakistani political leader Benazir Bhutto's assassination yesterday, the Pakistani community in the UAE says that the present government in their country has failed to provide security to the citizens. Akram Farooqi, Acting President of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) UAE, said he was too shocked to speak on the subject. 'I am not feeling well at all since I have heard the news and am in no position to comment,' he said.
Businessman and prominent community leader Tanvir Khawaja said, 'I strongly condemn the attack. President Pervez Musharraf should take responsibility of the attack and resign because his government has not been able to provide the required protection to the people. If the politicians of the country are not safe, then what will happen to the common man. This assassination has been planned so as to sabotage the elections.'
Another prominent businessman, Mian Saeed, said, 'It is indeed extremely bad news. We are stunned. Pakistan is not going to survive such incidents because we are fighting each other. The political system is the victim of deep conspiracy. I see no sensible leader who can take over the country. This is a sabotage so that elections are not held in the country. I have no words to condemn the incident.'
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Four supporters of Pakistan's Sharif killed
Dec 27, 2007
Islamabad - At least four supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were killed when unidentified gunmen fired at his party's procession on the outskirts of Islamabad, police said. Sharif was due to address election rallies in the city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad in few hours.
A procession was taken out to welcome Sharif when unidentified gunmen opened fire from a house at Karal Chowk on the main Islamabad airport road, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party said. Around 16 other supporters of Mr Sharif were also injured in the attack. Seven are listed as critical condition, the (PML-N) said.
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-16/0712277418181120.htm
New Delhi - India-Mammoth Islamic Meet-Uttar Pradesh Seraimeer town of Azamgarh district in eastern Uttar Pradesh will witness one of the biggest congregations on December 29, with hundreds of thousands of Muslims from across the globe expected to participate in a mammoth Islamic meet.
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http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0712277799172613.htm
Police recover six crude bombs in bus (India)
Dec. 26
RAIGANJ - The police recovered six crude bombs from a Raiganj bound bus on NH 31 near Panjipara under Goalpokhar police station of North Dinajpur district this morning. The bus was travelling from Siliguri.
According to the North Dinajpur police superintendent Mr SB Purnapatra, the police had prior information that criminals were importing arms and ammunition to North Dinajpur district from Siliguri to commit a major crime. “Accordingly, the police conducted the raid and recovered the bombs from an abandoned bag in the bus. The bombs have been defused.
Interrogating the bus driver and conductor, the police learnt that the bomb carriers got down from the bus near the Islampur bus terminus. There is rumour, however, that Maoist militants or some Naxalite groups may have been behind the act of importing the bombs to the district. The rumour has gathered force since Maoists posters urging the people to avenge the Nandigram killings were found all over Raiganj town last night.
The North Dinajpur SP, however, ruled out the possibility of Maoist involvement behind the recovery of the crude bombs today. The SP emphasised that it was the handiwork of criminals. “The police are sparing no means but to identify the carriers and arrest them,” he assured.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=182685