Four injured in suicide attack on A.T.S. office in Pakistan

Islamabad, Oct 9 (PTI) Four policemen were injured in a
suicide car bomb attack on the office of the Anti-Terrorism
Squad (A.T.S.) on outskirts of the Pakistani capital Thursday,
even as a joint session of the parliament discussed the
strategy in the country's war on terror about 20 k.m. away.

A suicide attacker rammed his explosive-laden car into
the three-storey office at 1 p.m. (local time) in the
high-security Police Lines, in a second major suicide bombing
in the Pakistani capital within a span of a month.

Though initial reports put the death toll at eight,
Islamabad police chief Asghar Raza Gardezi, who visited the
site of the attack, said only four policemen were injured. He
also confirmed a suicide bomber had carried out the attack.

Police officials said casualties were limited by the fact
that most A.T.S. personnel had been deployed for security
duties related to the special session of parliament.

One side of the A.T.S. building collapsed due the
powerful blast, which was heard from several kilometres away
and smashed windows of homes in the nearby residential areas.

A thick column of smoke was seen rising from the Police
Lines following the blast, which also scorched trees and
destroyed about 20 cars and motorcycles.

Policemen cordoned off the area as investigators scoured
the site for clues and body parts of the suicide bomber.

The Islamabad Police headquarters and the National Police
Academy (N.P.A.) are located within the Police Lines. The area
also houses the International Islamic University (I.I.U.), a
government hospital and one of the city's largest fruit and
vegetable markets.

The attack occurred despite tight security arrangements
across the federal capital for a joint session of parliament
convened by President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the war
against terrorism. Thousands of policemen and army personnel
have been deployed in the city to prevent untoward incidents.

Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned
the attack. In a message, Zardari said such incidents would
not deter the government's resolve to fight terrorism and
extremism.

Gilani directed law enforcement agencies to further
strengthen security in all important cities, particularly the
federal capital, and to initiate an immediate inquiry so that
the perpetrators could be brought to book.

The blast follows the deadly September 20 suicide attack
on the five-star Marriott hotel here, which was popular among
foreigners, that claimed nearly 60 lives. PTI RHL
PMR