Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Their brothers Jundullah have taken the responsibility for the attack. TTP have already indicated that they will continue their attacks, so nothing new here. If they were serious they could have cease fired which they didnt.
i don't take every newsbyte as truth. trusted sources have explained already that TTP is not involved. but believe what you want to believe to feel good inside.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
lashkar-e-jhangvi spokesperson has shown up!!!
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
I understand PTI is under the radar, but terror issue is more complexed than what it looks like. Even though I disagree with the stand they have taken, but one can see how it will ends. Peace talks will not be a success and military actions will be the last option. Those who do not want a dialog, will be targeted, I hope so!
Imran Khan has said this before and saying it again: We need to isolate those who is willing to talk, and TTP is not one of them.
Federal Government, Military, ISI and the police is equally responsible for this incident and collective effort is needed to tackle this issue. For me its early to claim if PTI has failed. All parties including PMLN has agreed to negotiate, so lets wait and see what is their next step. I hope its happens soon and is a effective one.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
ANP Zahid Khan couldn’t digest PTI Shah Farman factual statement and left Live TV show
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=523834714372339&set=vb.471932382895906&type=2&theater
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
An appalling crime
The sickening and despicable attack on the church in Peshawar has already claimed 81 innocent lives. The final death toll may well exceed 100. *I feel for the minorities in Pakistan.
*
May the perpetrators burn in hell.
My view is that you can't really have meaningful talks with TTP. They are simply untrustworthy and uncivilised people. The only language these scumbags understand is a bullet to the head. if anything since the APC we have seen an increase in violence and terrorism. It was the same story in Swat. They abused the peace deal brokered by PPP-led government and peace was finally restored there only after the army kicked these idiots out of Swat
**
imo talks are bound to fail unless there is the continued threat of strong military action against those terrorists groups who are not prepared to give up their arms
**This was a failure at both intelligence and security levels.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
My friend NFP again … just kidding!
Dear Mighty..
Dear Mighty… - DAWN.COM
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Understandably some people are very angry with IK
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
our poor estranged brothers.
Taliban bombing on police van kills five in Pishin - DAWN.COM
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Grief, anger as Peshawar buries its dead - DAWN.COM
AFP adds: The protesters gathered outside the ill-fated church also raised slogans against Imran Khan. His Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf heads the coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some of the protesters shouted abusive slogans against Mr Khan.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
At least some one is following these fatwas in Pakistan.
Destroy all churches in the Arabian Peninsula ? Saudi Grand Mufti ? RT News
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has said that all churches in the Arabian Peninsula must be destroyed. The statement prompted anger and dismay from Christians throughout the Middle East.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah made the controversial statement in a response to a question from a Kuwaiti NGO delegation. A Kuwaiti parliamentarian had called for a ban on the construction of new churches in February, but so far the initiative has not been passed into law. The NGO, called the Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, asked the Sheikh to clarify what Islamic law says on the matter.
**The Grand Mufti, who is the highest official of religious law in Saudi Arabia, as well as the head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars, cited the Prophet Mohammed, who said the Arabian Peninsula is to exist under only one religion.
**
**The Sheikh went on to conclude that it was therefore necessary for Kuwait, being a part of the Arabian Peninsula, to destroy all churches on its territory.
**
In February, Kuwaiti MP Osama al-Munawar announced on Twitter that he was planning to submit legislation that would remove all churches in the country. However, he later clarified that existing churches should remain, while the construction of new non-Islamic places of worship would be banned.
Another MP, Mohamemd Hayef, backed al-Munawar, saying the number of churches in the country was already disproportionate to the number of Christians.
As for Saudi Arabia, all religions other than Islam are banned and there are no churches, although a small minority of Christians is theoretically allowed to practice their religion in the privacy of their own home.
The Grand Mufti’s words have caused a heated response from Christians living in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and other countries throughout the Middle East. A number of bloggers also wrote on the issue.
**“Considering the hysteria that besets the West whenever non-authoritative individuals offend Islam – for instance, a fringe, unknown pastor – imagine what would happen if a Christian counterpart to the Grand Mufti, say the Pope, were to declare that all mosques in Italy must be destroyed; imagine the nonstop Western media frenzy that would erupt, all the shrill screams of ‘intolerance’ and ‘bigot,’ demands for apologies if not resignation, nonstop handwringing by sensitive politicians, and worse,” Raymond Ibrahim of Jihad Watch, a blog critical of extremist Islamic laws, wrote.
**
Despite the sensational news value of the story, the Western media has been remarkably silent. No major news services have covered the story yet. Ibrahim argues that the Grand Mufti gets a free pass even when he incites Muslims to destroy churches because Saudi Arabia is an ally of the United States.
Restrictions on Islam in the West
**The Grand Mufti’s words seem to mirror what a number of US politicians have been calling for – only their words were aimed at mosques and Muslims. In January, Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain said Americans have a constitutional right to ban mosques, arguing that Islam combines church and state, which contradicts the US Constitution.
**
"They’re using the church part of our First Amendment to infuse their morals in that community, and the people of that community do not like it,” Cain said on Fox News Sunday.
In November, Pat Buchanan, who vied for the Republican presidential nomination on a number of occasions, agreed with radio host Bryan Fischer in promoting limits to immigration from Islamic countries and the construction of new mosques.
In 2009 a constitutional amendment banning the construction of minarets was adopted in Switzerland following a referendum on the subject. Almost 58 per cent of the population said yes to the initiative, although the traditionally leftist French-speaking part of the country rejected it. The construction of new minarets is now banned throughout Switzerland, though the four existing minarets in Zurich, Geneva, Winterthur and Wangei bei Olten are to remain.
In 2010, French legislators banned face-covering headgear in public. The ban meant that women caught wearing the burqa in public could be fined up to 150 euros and/or be forced to participate in citizenship education. Proponents of the legislation argued that face covering was both an issue of security and social integrity, as facial recognition is important for communication. Opponents said the law encroached on personal freedoms.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Dear Imran Khan, where were you when my church was attacked? – The Express Tribune Blog
Dear Khan Sahib,
*My name is Fouzia. Other important facets of my identity are that I am a Christian school teacher, born in Peshawar and I incidentally happen to be a Pakistani.
**
To a politician, the fact that I am Pakistani should be most the important, yet in a country ravaged by militancy, where religious extremists have usurped the limited secular space, my faith perhaps carries more weight and authenticity.
**After this brief introduction, Mr Imran Khan, I want to tell you my story, but I must warn you in the beginning that it is a tale of anguish and pain. I have chosen you for the narration of my story because your party is at the helm of affairs in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – the capital of which is my beloved Peshawar.
**
It was the morning of September 22 when I stepped out of my house to attend the Sunday service in the All Saints Church; to remind you this is the church located in the old quarters of the Kohati area and dates back to 1893. Balmy breeze blew that morning, refreshing my soul and spirit.
Indeed, All Saints Church was a piece of beauty and some now say it resembled a mosque because of its minarets, a fort-like entrance and a small dome, over which was erected an iron cross. The architecture of the Church was a testimony to the emotional attachment of its builders to the architectural uniqueness of this land as well as to their faith.
On that fateful day, as I came out of the church and was conversing with a few of my former students, a loud explosion flung me a few feet away.
Was it the start of an apocalypse? I thought.
As I recovered consciousness and looked around, I saw pieces of human flesh scattered on the ground. A few steps away, I found yellow slippers of a young girl, but if you can bear to read it, her severed foot was still encased in the blood-coated slipper. Was it the slipper of the little girl- dressed in a flowery frock, her face touched by innocence- who was earlier going round in circles outside the church?
In the mayhem surrounding me at that time, the yellow slipper was all I could think about.
As the sounds of pain began emerging from the debris of the church and the sirens of ambulances began to wail, I realised that a bomb had gone off inside the church.
Despite my hairbreadth escape from the clutches of death, it was a day of loss for me. Not only had I lost friends and acquaintances but I had also lost my innocence, that is, my belief in humanity and in the ability of human spirit to transcend the boundaries of class and creed.
Mr Khan, I am writing you this letter to escape the dark shadows cast by this inhuman act. I want to find the courage to reach out to the injured around me and to start the process of healing. At present, I am moving in circles, big and small, like the little girl in the flowery dress before the blast, but cannot find the path out of this circular movement.
I have donated blood to the injured, paid for funeral services of poor members of my community and condoned with the relatives who have lost all in the blast. Still, my heart and soul are filled with a void- it is an emptiness defined by deadly silence.
**Mr Khan, amidst the uproar of violence, your silence was most pronounced. Instead of condemning the perpetrators of the bomb blast, you alluded to a conspiracy to derail negotiated settlement of militancy in Pakistan. Here I am quoting your words:
“Isn’t it strange that whenever peace talks are pursued, these attacks take place and I want to point out that there was also a drone strike today.”
After hearing these words on a TV channel, I am left with no choice but to ask you a few questions: Why are you linking the attack on the Christian community with drone strikes? How can a drone attack, targeted by a foreign power be equated with a bomb blast, detonated by militants, infesting the territory of Pakistan?**
**My dear Imran Khan, you showed many Pakistanis the dream of a Naya Pakistan. I, along with many others thought that, Naya Pakistan would be a place where Pakistanis, regardless of their religion, could profess their faith freely.
**
**Ah, it appears, that was just a beautiful fantasy.
**
**I just want to end my story with these words: By not condemning the terror group, you are encouraging a brigade of narrow minded people in the unbridled pursuit of their lethal agenda that will eventually destroy everything of value in our beloved Pakistan- be it old or Naya.
**
*Note: This story has been narrated to me by Fouzia (her name has been changed to protect her identity). She is a teacher at a Catholic Missionary School. She shared some parts of her horrid experience with me on the phone while a Peshawar-based friend, who happens to be Fouzia’s pupil, told me rest of her story.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Peshawar church blasts affect sympathy for drone victims - DAWN.COM
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23: The Peshawar blasts not only killed 83 Christians but may also have affected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plan to raise US drone strikes during the UN General Assembly, diplomats say.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad told journalists last week that the prime minister is likely to raise this issue during the 68th session of the UN General Assembly scheduled from Sept 23 to Sept 29.
The issue is already being discussed at other international platforms and a London-based media forum – the Bureau of Investigative Journalism – announced on Monday that it was recording the names and numbers of people killed in US drone strikes in Pakistan.
Pakistan claims that the drones, meant for terrorists hiding in Fata, also have killed a large number of civilians. The United States denies the charge, arguing that the drones are highly accurate and only a few civilians have died in those attacks.
Diplomats familiar with this issue say that Mr Sharif might have found some support in the world body for his position on the drones had Sunday’s terrorist attacks in Peshawar not happened.
“Things have changed overnight,” said a senior diplomat, pointing out that after the blasts “people around the world would be more interested in hitting back {at} the Taliban than saving them from US drones.”
Attacks like this, he argued, “also diminish whatever sympathy may have existed for the civilians victims trapped in the crossfire between the Taliban and the US drones.”
Diplomatic sources at the United Nations say that while the prime minister may still raise the issue but “now it may just get a brief mention” in his address to the General Assembly on Sept 27.
Last week, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Masood Khan, raised the issue inside the Security Council, calling for the cessation of these air strikes and seeking “urgent” talks to resolve the problem.
SARTAJ AZIZ: And hours before the Peshawar blasts, Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Aziz told reporters that Pakistan would raise the drone issue at various UN forums.
Mr Aziz said Pakistan’s policy was clear that such strikes were “counter-productive” as they cause large numbers of civilian deaths and generate hatred among people.
Pakistan had conveyed its serious concern to the United States over its drone programme, urging it to stop the strikes, he said.
“Drone strikes infringe Pakistan’s sovereignty and violate international law,” Mr Aziz added.
The Sharif government faces tremendous pressure from the PTI and other political groups on this issue and on opening a dialogue with the militants.
Earlier this month, an all-party conference not only authorised the prime minister to engage the Taliban but also asked him to raise the drone issue at the United Nations.
“The federal government should consider the possibility of taking the drone issue to the United Nation as drone attacks are a violation of International Law,” the resolution said.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
news has come but nobody wants to post it I guess.. let it be clear, TTP not behind these attacks. government needs to start a serious investigation.
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
news has come but nobody wants to post it I guess.. let it be clear, TTP not behind these attacks. government needs to start a serious investigation.
Oh was it the bogeyman? Are you the TTP spokesman. I guess they are all nice guys really just misunderstood?
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
Words cannot describe the barbaric nature of this attack. The enemies of peace continue to work against our peace objectives in the region. It is no secret that the nation of Pakistan continues to face the wrath of terrorism. We cannot over emphasize Pakistan’s importance in the region. The truth is that we cannot have a safe and secure region without a safe and secure Pakistan. We denounce this act of terror and wish to see the culprits caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. We send our deepest heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. We also wish a quick and speedy to those who are injured. We will not let these acts of terror deter us from restoring peace in the region. We stand by the government of Pakistan and hope to work together to negate the threat of terrorism.
Ali Khan
DET, United States Central Command
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
My Name is Khan and Im not a Terrorist
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
guys, don’t talk about these incidents, Khattak sahab naraz hotay hain
K-P chief minister blames media for Peshawar blasts – The Express Tribune
Re: 80 killed in Peshawar church blast
KPK CM is also naraz with media for his diarrhea.
