The New Nation - Internet Edition

Internet Edition. October 20, 2007, Updated: Bangladesh Time 12:00 AM

138 killed, 500 injured: Benazir unhurt in midnight bombings: PPP leader vows to stay in Pakistan despite attack: Official cites, Al-Qaida link: Zardari blames key intelligence age

Agencies, Karachi
At least 138 people were killed and more than 500 injured in two powerful suicide blasts in a bid to assassinate former prime minister Benazir Bhutto during her homecoming procession after eight years in self-imposed exile late Thursday night but the Pakistan People's Party chief escaped unhurt.
Two explosions went off a minute apart shortly after midnight near Karsaz close to the vehicle Benazir was travelling in, at the head of a procession of hundreds of thousands of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters who had flooded the streets of the city to welcome the return of their leader.

News analysis: What the attack means for Pakistan

Ahmed Rashid
The bloody carnage in Karachi has once again plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, raised serious doubts as to whether parliamentary elections can be held in January and deepened the longstanding mistrust between President Pervez Musharraf and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Within hours of the bomb attack there were a string of accusations and innuendos by members of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders that the government security and intelligence services failed to prevent the blasts.
In response Gen Musharraf condemned the bombing as an attack on democracy.

Army is not governing the country: Gen Moeen: Khaleda, Hasina to be freed if proved innocent

Staff Reporter
Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has said the Army is not playing a policy making role in Bangladesh instead it is helping the Caretaker government to maintain law and order and prepare electoral roll with a view to holding free, fair and credible election.
"We the Army are not governing the country. Like other government bodies, we are just part of the government," he said while exchanging views with journalists at the Bangladesh Consulate office in New York.
Gen Moeen said it is painful that the Bangladesh Army was often equated with the Pakistan Army.

Kumari Puja observed

BSS, Dhaka
Members of the Hindu community yesterday observed 'Kumari Puja' on the third day of their biggest religious festival Durga Puja all over the country.
The 'Kumari Puja' was held at Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission in the morning. A girl child aged below 10 years was worshipped as 'mother' in the 'Kumari Puja'.
A large number of devotees gathered on the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple at noon where Dhaka City Puja Committee organised offering 'Anjoli' to Goddess Durga.
Thousands of Hindu devotees offered 'Anjoli' and prayed to Goddess Durga for peace, progress and prosperity of the nation and communal harmony in the country.

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