Date:22/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/22/stories/2007122258180100.htm

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Suicide bomber kills 50 in Pakistan

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: The Id-ul-Adha prayers at a mosque near Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province on Friday morning turned into a bloodbath when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the midst of worshippers, killing at least 50 persons and leaving more than 80 wounded.

The bombing renewed fears of more terrorist attacks ahead of the January 8 national elections.

The apparent target was Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the Interior Minister in the just-dissolved government. He was among the worshippers at the Markazi Jamia Masjid Sherpao in Charsadda, 20 km from Peshawar, when the bomber struck.

The former Minister escaped unhurt in the attack, but his son Mustafa was among the wounded. The mosque is located next to the former Minister’s home and was packed with more than 1,000 worshippers at the time of the attack.

The bomber managed to get in despite the security measures at the gate and found a place just a few rows behind Mr. Sherpao, who was in the front row, and detonated himself as the prayers ended.

This is the second time this year that Mr. Sherpao has survived an attempt on his life. A suicide bomber tried to get him at a public meeting in Charsadda in April, killing more than 50 people as he blew himself up.

Condemning the attack, President Pervez Musharraf said: “No Muslim could even think of committing such a heinous crime that takes the lives of a large number of innocent faithfuls,” and vowed to continue fighting extremism and terrorism undeterred by such incidents.