While this story is tragic, but that is not the reason I’m posting this article.
Keep reading and you will see Dawn newspaper refereeing to Azad Kashmir as “POK”. In India POK stands for “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir”. Please write to Dawn and tell them this is deeply offensive to most Pakistanis.
DAWN.COM | Provinces | Baitullah claims Muzaffarabad suicide attack
Baitullah claims Muzaffarabad suicide attack
Friday, 26 Jun, 2009 | 03:30 PM PST |
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The blast was targeted at a military vehicle. —Reuters/File photo
[Sci-Tech
Endangered python spotted in Muzaffarabad](http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/sci-tech/16-endangered-python-spotted-in-muzaffarabad-hs-08)
**MUZAFFARABAD: Two soldiers were killed and at least three others were wounded here on Friday in what was the first ever suicide bombing in Pakistan administered Kashmir, police and military officials said. **
The early morning attack in an army barrack in Shaukat Lines, housing many army installations, caught security personnel unawares although according to a police official ‘they were on alert for the past four months.’
Witnesses and official sources said the suicide bomber who appeared to be in early twenties walked through a ground, used by army personnel for physical training and local youths for playing cricket and football, and entered into the adjacent residential barrack of non-commissioned army officials where he blew himself up at 6:25 pm after engaging some soldiers in conversation ostensibly to cause maximum casualties.
‘On the premises of barrack the bomber was intercepted by a soldier whom he tried to engage in conversation presumably to attract other soldiers around for maximum physical losses,’ the sources said, adding, the bomber then exploded himself, killing one soldier on the spot and wounding four others who were evacuated to the Combined Military Hospital where one of them died of his wounds.
An army pick-up parked 5-10 yards away from the bomber’s position turned turtle while another one was also damaged by the impact of blast which was heard in most parts of the town.
An intelligence source who reached the affected barrack within moments of explosion told Dawn that he saw the ground splattered with blood and lower limbs and also some parts of the upper limbs of the bomber.
‘But I could not see his head and torso,’ he added.
POK Inspector General Police Javed Iqbal and other senior officials of POK administration reached the site of the explosion shortly afterwards and discussed various aspects of attack, its fallout and investigation techniques with military officers who were later joined by the Murree based General Officer Commanding of 12-Division.
It may be mentioned here that the junior section of Army Public School is located in the closest proximity of the barrack that came under attack and several other educational institutions as well as the 5-AK Brigade headquarters also exist nearby, at a distance of two to four hundreds yards.
Several parents were heard voicing concern about the security of their children in the area.
POK minister for social welfare Mrs Noreen Arif who lives hardly 100 yards away from the targeted barrack also visited the place four hours later and termed the incident ‘very tragic.’
‘We ought to devise a comprehensive strategy to ensure security of our people and combat the menace of terrorism,’ she said, but declined to give a direct reply to the question if the need had arisen to shift the army installations away from civilian populations.
Though Pakistan is in the grip of terrorist attacks, mostly targeting the security personnel, it was the first time that such bombing had taken place in POK.
A senior police official who did not want to be named told Dawn that the masterminds of Friday’s attack had chosen an army installation in Muzaffarabad for some definite reason, most probably to realise the authorities that they could expand their activities and retaliate the security forces anywhere including Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
It may be mentioned here that the targeted barrack falls under 5-AK Brigade which is part of Azad Kashmir (AK) Regiment, reportedly carrying out operation against the militants in Swat and adjacent areas.
…
Why would Dawn trust an Indian report on what happens in POK/Muzaffarabad ?
but don’t tell anyone else 