32 killed in twin suicide bombings
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—At least 32 people have been feared killed in two suicide bomb blast in the sensitive areas of Rawalpindi the Army General Headquarter and outside the Hamza Camp (Ogri Camp). However Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Waheed Arshad has confirmed the death of only 17 people. Both the suicide attackers have also been killed.
The first blast occurred at around 7:45 am when a pick up van carrying the suicide bomber rammed into a ministry of defence bus carrying service men of intelligence agencies at Faizabad near the Hamza Camp. As a result of the collision a loud explosion was heard and the entire pick up van was destroyed and the bus caught fire. According to ISPR sources 50 passengers were on board the bus out of which 16 have been killed and the remaining 34 injured are in serious condition. The injured have been taken to the CMH Hospital and other hospitals.
However according to other sources 35 people in the bus dies immediately while the rest are in precarious condition. The magnitude of the blast was so high that the windowpanes of the nearby buildings were broken and the city was engulfed with black smoke. Security forces immediately sealed the area and even the journalists were not allowed to come near the site. Their cameras were snatched have they were told to leave.
Murree Road was closed for all kind of terrific and bystanders were threatened by security officials and ordered to leave immediately. The churned bodies and the injured have been shifted to CMH and other hospitals. However the ambulances of Edhi, 1122 and Red Crescent were not allowed to enter the site of the blast to carry out relief work. The second blast occurred 10 minutes afterward at Check post outside the Army General Headquarters when a suicide bomber in a car attempted to pass the check post to enter the GHQ. However he was stopped by the security men at the check post and was asked for identification when he blew himself up killing one security man and injuring two.
Consequently, the security has been beefed up around the entire city. Large number of forces has been deployed at all military installations and institutions. Former Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid while talking to Private TV Channel have condemned both the incident and said that this would effect the election process and as their would be less turn out of the voters.
President General Pervez Musharraf and care taker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro condemning the twin suicide blasts in Rawalpindi have expressed their grief and sorrow over the loss of lives of lives employees of Ministry of Defence. President General Pervez Musharraf has ordered an immediate enquiry into the incident and directed the intelligence agencies to expose the elements behind the heinous incident.
President Musharraf said that anti Islam and anti state elements are behind the incident and these elements are not well-wishers of anyone. He said that the government would continue its crackdown against such elements and would expose them before the public.