At least 70 dead as bomb rips through Lal Shahbaz shrine in Sehwan, Sindh

[Syed1]

At least 57 people have been killed and scores injured in a suicide attack on the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan on Thursday evening.

Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Munawar Maheesar confirmed 57 people died in the attack with scores injured. The dead include four children and 12 women.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sehwan said a suicide bomber entered the shrine through its Golden gate. The attacker blew himself up after throwing a grenade, which failed to explode, he said.

The explosion took place in the area where dhamaal (a Sufi ritual) was being performed after evening prayers.

A large number of devotees, from across the country, frequent the shrine on Thursdays — a day of spiritual significance.

What we know so far

• At least 57 deaths and scores injured
• The explosion occurred in the area where the dhamaal was being performed
• The attack is reminiscent of the suicide bombing at the Shah Norani shrine in Balochistan in November last year.
• Armed forces, a military C-130 and a navy helicopter will aid in shifting the injured

An emergency has been declared in all hospitals of the area, with the injured being shifted to Liaquat Medical Complex, Jamshoro and the sub-district hospital.

Armed forces aid in rescue efforts

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed that immediate assistance be provided to civil authorities. Army contingents have been dispatched along with medical personnel. Combined Military Hospital Hyderabad has also been alerted to receive casualties.

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft has been tasked to to airlift the injured from Nawabshah airport, while a navy helicopter will airlift the injured from Sehwan and its surrounding areas, said the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The ISPR also added that the armed forces have placed all required resources to facilitate the rescue effort. Pakistan Army and Rangers are also assisting with rescue efforts at the site.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has contacted senior civil and police officials of the district and instructed them to reach the shrine.

The chief minister said he has directed rescue teams to reach the spot of the attack.

“Doctors from Jamshoro, Nawabshah and Hyderabad have been sent to Sehwan,” added Shah. He also said security has been tightened at all shrines across the province.

Sehwan is Shah's constituency.

It takes around an hour and half to reach Sehwan by road from Hyderabad; a distance of approximately 150 kilometres.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was a contemporary of Syed Jalal-ud-din Bukhari of UchSharif. After travelling extensively in present day Punjab, Sindh and Ajmer, he finally settled in Sehwan.

Resurgence in terror attacks

Pakistan seems to be experiencing a fresh resurgence in terror attacks.

Earlier today, an explosive device had targeted an Army convoy in the Awaran area of Balochistan, killing three soldiers.

On Feb 15, a suicide bomber struck in Mohmand, killing three personnel of the Khasadar force and five civilians. The attack was claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP)

The same day, a suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into a vehicle carrying judges in Peshawar's Hayatabad Phase 5 area, killing the driver and injuring its four other occupants. The attack was claimed by the TTP too.

On Feb 13, a suicide bomber had struck a protest on Lahore's Charing Cross interchange, killing 13 and injuring 85. The attack had happened right outside the gates of Punjab's Provincial Assembly.

The attack was claimed by the Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction.

On the same day, two personnel of Balochistan's bomb disposal squad were killed as they attempted to defuse an explosive device planted under the Sariab Road bridge in Quetta, the provincial capital.

The last attack on a shrine of a Sufi mystic took place on November 12, 2016, when a suicide bomber struck the shrine of Shah Norani in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan, where at least 52 people were killed and 102 were injured.

The explosion had also taken place at a spot inside the Shah Noorani shrine where the dhamaal was being performed. At the time of the blast, there were at least 500 people gathered at the spot to observe the ritual.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1315136/at...ps-through-lal-shahbaz-shrine-in-sehwan-sindh

 

[Syed1]

What the hell is going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


TV channels reporting atleast 10 dead, more feared.

 

[Syed1]

Qamar Bajwa better start taking measures right away or resign and go home.

This is what happens when a COAS is appointed who is 'compliant' to the PM and is more loyal to his chair than the country.

 

[Syed1]

GEO saying 25+ martyred so far, expect the number to rise.

The place was crowded since it was Thursday night.

 

[Madplayer]

Inside the shrine???? Thats shocking!

 

[Nostalgic]

Did I have to live to see this day? A blast at Qalandar's shrine? Then again, this was once Qalandar's land, and Bulleh Shah's, and Rehman Baba's. Now its Abdul Wahab's, and Ibn Taymiyyah's, and Ibn Saud's.

I won't bother reading the comments on the news websites, but I can bet there won't be any shortage of the "yes, but..." types, who will insist on informing everyone that what goes on at the shrine is shirk etc, and that the maulvis are bad, but the sufis are too, and on and on and on...

 

[Syed1]

Just look at the garbage our beloved neighbours are posting on that Tribune article. I wonder why Tirbune doesn't moderate that filth.


Some people have no humanity and they are worst than vermin.

 

[Nostalgic]

Just look at the garbage our beloved neighbours are posting on that Tribune article. I wonder why Tirbune doesn't moderate that filth.


Some people have no humanity and they are worst than vermin.

Yes, the neighbors too. The schadenfreude of some of them who post on Pakistani websites is sickening.

 

[pakistan cricket fan]

Inna lillahi wa inna illahi raji'oon
Not even darbars are safe
bloody cowards

 

[MSaad1237]

Extremely sad news..


The Wahabi ideology that is taught in some madrassas is the cause behind that..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Inside the shrine???? Thats shocking!

What's more shocking is that the govt will only be able to mumble some half baked statement as (apparently) they hold no real authority when it comes to security issues and they will be as much in the dark as to how to address this as your average citizen. Let's hope someone at least cleans up the mess.

 

[Bewal Express]

Evil act from evil people. May Allah grant Jannat to the deceased.

 

[cricket.mad]

Don't understand why once the most liberal and progressive islamic country like Pakistan has gone the hardcore Islamic route. .really saddened...this killing of those who differ is not your original Islamic culture..seems the Arabic form of Islam has taken over totally...

 

[DW44]

Don't understand why once the most liberal and progressive islamic country like Pakistan has gone the hardcore Islamic route. .really saddened...this killing of those who differ is not your original Islamic culture..seems the Arabic form of Islam has taken over totally...

40 years of dissemination of extremist values to the masses through the education system, normalization of extremism in mainstream society, proliferation of predominantly Saudi sponsored madrasas that are now home to 2.1 million students, incorporation of extremism into the law by Bhutto and Zia, rewriting our history by successive governments with an emphasis on glorifying warmongers, glorifying terrorists as 'mujahideen' to garner public support for what is a geopolitical struggle(as opposed to an ideological one). Given all of these things, it was a matter of when, not if.

 

[JaDed]

RIP victims,not sure but the news here is saying 50(don't think its verified).

 

[Smiling Creed]

Did I have to live to see this day? A blast at Qalandar's shrine? Then again, this was once Qalandar's land, and Bulleh Shah's, and Rehman Baba's. Now its Abdul Wahab's, and Ibn Taymiyyah's, and Ibn Saud's.

I won't bother reading the comments on the news websites, but I can bet there won't be any shortage of the "yes, but..." types, who will insist on informing everyone that what goes on at the shrine is shirk etc, and that the maulvis are bad, but the sufis are too, and on and on and on...

I don't post much on PP, but I can see the pain which you are feeling.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Don't understand why once the most liberal and progressive islamic country like Pakistan has gone the hardcore Islamic route. .really saddened...this killing of those who differ is not your original Islamic culture..seems the Arabic form of Islam has taken over totally...

Oil wealthy Arab countries don't seem to suffer from these hardcore Islamic bombings strangely enough.

 

[shaz619]

RIP

[MENTION=136193]Adil_94[/MENTION] the Wahabi filth strikes again

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Sister in law was there only a few days ago.

Sad and we are in a terrible spiral again.

What a week!

 

[DW44]

RIP

[MENTION=136193]Adil_94[/MENTION] the Wahabi filth strikes again

Highly unlikely unless it was IS.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The dead would have gone out to pray, and now will never return home.

I see that Dawn have linked to an old article talking about the security at such shrines. I know that increased security is only tackling the symptoms and not the root cause of such attacks however what is the security like at such shrines and places of worship in Pakistan?

I assume because of the sheer number of them and the countless people who visit these places it will be very difficult to provide adequate security to all.

 

[DW44]

In 2007, there used to be a bomb blast almost every other day. There have now been nine in the last four days which begs the question as to what we have really achieved on the counter terrorism front in the last ten years if we're now back to square one after so many false dawns? Why were we repeatedly being fed reports of TTP's back being broken and the scourge of terrorism finally being on it's way down when it's clear that they're far from defeated and, if anything, as strong as ever apart from some loss of territory.

 

[Madplayer]

In 2007, there used to be a bomb blast almost every other day. There have now been nine in the last four days which begs the question as to what we have really achieved on the counter terrorism front in the last ten years if we're now back to square one after so many false dawns? Why were we repeatedly being fed reports of TTP's back being broken and the scourge of terrorism finally being on it's way down when it's clear that they're far from defeated and, if anything, as strong as ever apart from some loss of territory.

You are not fighting numbers here. You are fighting an ideology. Military actions produce limited results.

 

[DW44]

You are not fighting numbers here. You are fighting an ideology. Military actions produce limited results.

So I guess we should buckle up then because the ideology isn't going anywhere any time soon. There was a time when we'd hear about the silent majority but I doubt those opposed to this ideology have been a majority for years now. You can't continue to draw a line between extremism in society and proper terrorist organizations if you want to fight this ideology. There was a time when our governments promoted extremism far and wide for political reasons with all the foresight of a six year old, now that they're being confronted by the monster they created, they have to go through the very people whose votes(or, in the army's case, support) they have to rely on to stay in power.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

70 dead now.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

In 2007, there used to be a bomb blast almost every other day. There have now been nine in the last four days which begs the question as to what we have really achieved on the counter terrorism front in the last ten years if we're now back to square one after so many false dawns? Why were we repeatedly being fed reports of TTP's back being broken and the scourge of terrorism finally being on it's way down when it's clear that they're far from defeated and, if anything, as strong as ever apart from some loss of territory.

Yes but what has happened in the past few weeks.

We were having a peaceful time.....

 

[DW44]

Yes but what has happened in the past few weeks.

We were having a peaceful time.....

Calm before the storm. The warning signs were always there and at some point something had to give. Extremism is one of those thing where the "something is better than nothing" approach just doesn't work, it's all or nothing and it's been clear from the outset that it was never going to be 'all' so nothing it is in then. We've been stuck in a loop of minor victories followed by catastrophe followed by some more victories and so on for a while now.

 

[Hail-Akram]

RIP victims. May God give their near and dear ones strength to deal with these difficult times.

On the topic of terrorism, I think Pakistan should look at modernization of the Madarasas, promote a more moderate version of religion and try to encourage people to focus more on science and education rather than radical versions of religion. As Modi once said addressing to the people of Pakistan (from India), "let’s have a war on ending unemployment… let’s declare war on illiteracy. Let’s declare war on infant mortality and maternal deaths".

 

[Syed1]

RIP victims. May God give their near and dear ones strength to deal with these difficult times.

On the topic of terrorism, I think Pakistan should look at modernization of the Madarasas, promote a more moderate version of religion and try to encourage people to focus more on science and education rather than radical versions of religion. As Modi once said addressing to the people of Pakistan (from India), "let’s have a war on ending unemployment… let’s declare war on illiteracy. Let’s declare war on infant mortality and maternal deaths".

Normal Pakistanis aren't doing this, almost exclusively the attackers are from Afghanistan

 

[Madplayer]

So I guess we should buckle up then because the ideology isn't going anywhere any time soon. There was a time when we'd hear about the silent majority but I doubt those opposed to this ideology have been a majority for years now. You can't continue to draw a line between extremism in society and proper terrorist organizations if you want to fight this ideology. There was a time when our governments promoted extremism far and wide for political reasons with all the foresight of a six year old, now that they're being confronted by the monster they created, they have to go through the very people whose votes(or, in the army's case, support) they have to rely on to stay in power.

Firstly it should be identified whether the people in power (government, army etc) want to confront this ideology or want it to remain intact so that they could fool the gullible population and exploit the nation through a whole host of schemes.

If the government is serious about changing things , an organised state sponsered propaganda on a massive scale can be used to slowly change the mindset of the people. The most liberal and open minded molanaas (they are there in Pakistan , i have listened to some of them myself) should be instructed used to come on tv and radio, hold public gatherings, spread their ideas and interpretations of the religious doctrines through posters, pamplets, social media etc etc to shape up the viewpoints of people. Get all the madrassas registered with their respective district authorities. Wahabi madrassas in particular should be kept under watch. This should be done in combination with improvements in education (especially making it available to the masses in far flung areas) and a holistic development of the nation. At the same time military action is required to root out terrorist hideouts. It will take years to do this and is impossible until the government is sincere and wants to save the country.

 

[Madplayer]

RIP victims. May God give their near and dear ones strength to deal with these difficult times.

On the topic of terrorism, I think Pakistan should look at modernization of the Madarasas, promote a more moderate version of religion and try to encourage people to focus more on science and education rather than radical versions of religion. As Modi once said addressing to the people of Pakistan (from India), "let’s have a war on ending unemployment… let’s declare war on illiteracy. Let’s declare war on infant mortality and maternal deaths".

Oh please, its ironic to use Modi's example here.

 

[shah_1]

Recent attack on Judges in Peshawar

The terrorist's photo has been released, in one of the photo he is shaking hands with Afgahnistan Taliban leader for a send off.

These attacks are coming from Afghanistan. Time to throw all these refugees and seal the border.

 

[PakLFC]

All this is coming from Afghanistan where these crazies are supported by RAW. There is absolutely know doubt about this at all. What I am sacred off is when Pak takes revenge it is going to be far more bloody. It was a major mistake for Raheel Sharif to resign as he was doing a brilliant job. Bhajwa doesn't seem to have the same aura about him at all. He has to enter Afghanistan to stop these attacks now, there is no other choice.

 

[PakLFC]

Recent attack on Judges in Peshawar

The terrorist's photo has been released, in one of the photo he is shaking hands with Afgahnistan Taliban leader for a send off.

These attacks are coming from Afghanistan. Time to throw all these refugees and seal the border.

Pak has deported 600,000 Afghans over the past year or so with hundreds of thousands more set to follow this year. It is time we threw out all of these violent people where they belong. Pakistani society is sick and tired of these people. Afghans can never be loyal to any country that takes them in. The Iranians got it right by treating them like they deserve to be. Never mind what the UN says or thinks, enough is enough. Let India who they love so much take them all in.

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...fugees-in-8-months-report-117021300413_1.html

 

[GujjarLife]

Too many 'counter-terrorism analysts' in this thread. The people doing these acts are afghans and their handlers are in Afghanistan. The time has come for air strikes in Afghanistan and a complete shutdown of Afghans entering in Pakistan.

 

[Markhor]

Why ? They are human beings for god sake. Don't these people have any humanity ?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Listen to Donald Trumps on this thread accusing Afghans...

100's of attacks happened in Afghanistan and they blamed Pakistan and asked to stop supporting Taliban and yet Pakistan refuses and uses Taliban for political reasons.

The refugees that are sent back to Afghanistan is not because they are terrorists, but because Afghanistan and India have close relations and Pakistan is hitting back this way to put political pressure.

Accept your own failures and accept the fact that there is plenty of religious intolerance in Pakistan. There has been massive attacks on Shia as well. This has nothing to do with Afghanistan or India.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Too many 'counter-terrorism analysts' in this thread. The people doing these acts are afghans and their handlers are in Afghanistan. The time has come for air strikes in Afghanistan and a complete shutdown of Afghans entering in Pakistan.

Breaking: #Pakistan blames #Kabul for hosting Pak Army on its soil to destabilize Pakistan.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Listen to Donald Trumps on this thread accusing Afghans...

100's of attacks happened in Afghanistan and they blamed Pakistan and asked to stop supporting Taliban and yet Pakistan refuses and uses Taliban for political reasons.

The refugees that are sent back to Afghanistan is not because they are terrorists, but because Afghanistan and India have close relations and Pakistan is hitting back this way to put political pressure.

Accept your own failures and accept the fact that there is plenty of religious intolerance in Pakistan. There has been massive attacks on Shia as well. This has nothing to do with Afghanistan or India.

On the contrary this has everything to do with Afghanistan and India.

RIP to the victims, a disgusting act of killing against people trying to pray peacefully.

 

[Syed1]

Why ? They are human beings for god sake. Don't these people have any humanity ?

These "human beings" are coming to our country willy nilly and bombing as they please.

I'm all for going into Afghanistan and bombing their camps and strongholds back to the middle ages.

 

[Syed1]

Afghanistan has time and again been warned that people are getting sanctuary in their country and they show a lack of will to counter these terrorists. We need to go in, first soften the targets with aerial bombardment and then send in ground troops.

Laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahi suntay.

 

[Ankit007]

Here count of dead are saying as 100. Rip them...

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

It's a bit ironic That Afghanistan has for decades complained about Pakistan lack of will to do something about terrorism in Afghanistan. And now Exact same things being said by Pakistanis.

 

[Ankit007]

It's ISIS who has claimed the attack

https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3985904?client=ms-android-motorola

 

[Saj]

Very sad news.

Terrible few days for Pakistan.

 

[Syed1]

It's ISIS who has claimed the attack

https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3985904?client=ms-android-motorola

Even a dog dies they claim responsibility.

The attackers are always Afghani.

 

[Syed1]

Next target Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Ya Allah

 

[Saeed]

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. There is no logic in blaming Afghanistan or any other foreign country. It's Pakistan that needs to correct its intentions. Take action against all kind of extremist groups and stop supporting Taliban in Afghanistan.

 

[Syed1]

Torkham border with Afghanistan sealed. Good move.

Need to seal all borders with Afghanistan. Even if a fly wants to cross the border go after it with a rocket launcher.

 

[Barragan]

Awful, just awful few days in Pak.

Relative in Pak was saying, how it feels like hell atm in Pak.

 

[Syed1]

Picture released of Peshawar attacker with Mullah Fazullah who has been holed up in Afghanistan and some people have the gall to say that Afghanistan is not involved.

 

[troodon]

View attachment 72735


Next target Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Ya Allah

How the heck do ordinary joes on internet getting access to confidential letters like these?

Makes a joke of the entire security situation in Pakistan. These kind of letters should never be leaked to public.

 

[Hail-Akram]

Normal Pakistanis aren't doing this, almost exclusively the attackers are from Afghanistan

I didn't mean that normal Pakistanis would do it. In fact I wouldn't call them even normal human beings.

But then again attacks on Sufi shrines could be a handiwork of radicals as they hate Sufism for their liberal philosophy.

 

[Saeed]

Picture released of Peshawar attacker with Mullah Fazullah who has been holed up in Afghanistan and some people have the gall to say that Afghanistan is not involved.

Afghanistan has no control over certain areas of Afghanistan because of Pakistani backed Taliban. If he was in areas controlled by the Afghan government then you would have a point. This is like blaming Iraqi government for harboring ISIS or Baghdadi. ISIS claimed responsibility for this attack and they control areas in Jalalabad district.

 

[Syed1]

Afghanistan has no control over certain areas of Afghanistan because of Pakistani backed Taliban. If he was in areas controlled by the Afghan government then you would have a point. This is like blaming Iraqi government for harboring ISIS or Baghdadi. ISIS claimed responsibility for this attack and they control areas in Jalalabad district.

Are you even listening to your self??


So Afghanistan has no control over areas of Pakistani backed Taliban and the people who are attacking Pakistan are residing in the areas of these Pakistani backed Taliban, which means Pakistan itself is controlling the people attacking itself?


That is the dumbest logic I have ever heard.

 

[blackanhyellow]

It's a bit ironic That Afghanistan has for decades complained about Pakistan lack of will to do something about terrorism in Afghanistan. And now Exact same things being said by Pakistanis.

At the end of the day lets put the bias aside and realize that both countries made mistakes in the past.

Afghanistan made its share of mistakes that it paid for and is paying for to this day.

Pakistan is now also paying for mistakes it made and will continue to pay for them.

 

[Black Zero]

vicious cycle

Bralivis violent against Ahmadis and Christians.
Wahabis violent against Bralivis, Shias and State

Cancer has spread ...now it does not need foreign (Afghanistan or Arabistan) help.

Question is if Pakistan is ready for chemo.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon

 

[Hail-Akram]

vicious cycle

Bralivis violent against Ahmadis and Christians.
Wahabis violent against Bralivis, Shias and State

Cancer has spread ...now it does not need foreign (Afghanistan or Arabistan) help.

Question is if Pakistan is ready for chemo.

I can't help but think of the tenure of Parvez Musharraf. He was a leader who had the guts to take strong steps to counter the terrorism. And that's the kind of chemo Pakistan needs in my opinion.

But then he was a military ruler after all. And for democratic Govt to do the same, it needs a solid support of the Army as well as other political parties ... and not to forget a good leader at the top.

 

[JaDed]

I can't help but think of the tenure of Parvez Musharraf. He was a leader who had the guts to take strong steps to counter the terrorism. And that's the kind of chemo Pakistan needs in my opinion.

But then he was a military ruler after all. And for democratic Govt to do the same, it needs a solid support of the Army as well as other political parties ... and not to forget a good leader at the top.

Didn't most of the bombings start during his tenure?

 

[Drreddymd]

Are you even listening to your self??


So Afghanistan has no control over areas of Pakistani backed Taliban and the people who are attacking Pakistan are residing in the areas of these Pakistani backed Taliban, which means Pakistan itself is controlling the people attacking itself?


That is the dumbest logic I have ever heard.

Sir what about daily bombings from terrorists that r hiding in pak because of the sanctuaries provided by pak during afg us war .

So people dying in afg because of u r covert help to taliban is ok but when same people retaliate u cry fowl

 

[saeed5646]

Sir what about daily bombings from terrorists that r hiding in pak because of the sanctuaries provided by pak during afg us war .

So people dying in afg because of u r covert help to taliban is ok but when same people retaliate u cry fowl

this thread is not for arguing for useless stuff 87 people have been killed and 350+ injured atleast have

some humanity

 

[Dr_Bassim]

If it were upto me I would promote mass hangings of these culprits in public places.

And ask some educated Maulvis to issue Fatwas that such Jaahils are not going to heaven but hell every time they kill innocent people.

However government is more interested in making itself rich.

Long live Nawaz.

 

[Syed1]

If it were upto me I would promote mass hangings of these culprits in public places.

And ask some educated Maulvis to issue Fatwas that such Jaahils are not going to heaven but hell every time they kill innocent people.

However government is more interested in making itself rich.

Long live Nawaz.

Doctor shahab I rarely agree with you.. but here I concur a 100%

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If it were upto me I would promote mass hangings of these culprits in public places.

And ask some educated Maulvis to issue Fatwas that such Jaahils are not going to heaven but hell every time they kill innocent people.

However government is more interested in making itself rich.

Long live Nawaz.

Identifying the culprits is the first step. First that needs to be done, then we can console ourselves with vengeful punishments.

 

[Drreddymd]

this thread is not for arguing for useless stuff 87 people have been killed and 350+ injured atleast have

some humanity

What humanity u r speaking? Above posters are discussing what needs to be done and others are saying Pakistan is equally responsible but u ignore it and speak of humanity.

Who is not condemning this barbaric activities?

 

[saeed5646]

What humanity u r speaking? Above posters are discussing what needs to be done and others are saying Pakistan is equally responsible but u ignore it and speak of humanity.

Who is not condemning this barbaric activities?

i am not going into this crap talking because this is not the thread to defend pakistan it is about the

people who were killed yesterday ,those innocent people who were killed brutally