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56 suicide attacks occurred since 2002

* Bhutto rally bombing deadliest in country’s history

By Azaz Syed

ISLAMABAD: The Thursday night’s suicide bombing of a rally taken out in Karachi to welcome Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto killing 143 people was the deadliest ever in terms of casualties bringing the total number of suicide attacks in the country to 56.

According to the Interior Ministry figures available with Daily Times, prior to the Thursday’s bombing, 55 suicide bombings took place in the country since January 2002 killing almost 574 people. It may be recalled that 53 people had lost their life in July 4, 2003 bomb blast in Quetta, which was the second deadliest attack.

Interestingly, Karachi is the only city where six suicide attacks have been carried out since May 8, 2002. The following is a breakdown of suicide bombings that took place in the country since January 2002.

May 8, 2002: Fourteen people, including nine French nationals and five Pakistanis, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a bus in front of Sheraton Hotel, Karachi.

April 11, 2006: Forty-seven people lost their life when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Sunni Tehreek gathering at Nishtar Park, Karachi.

March 17, 2002: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a church located in Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad.

August 6, 2002: A suicide bomber attacked a church in Taxila.

August 9, 2002: A suicide bomber attacked a church in Murree.

December 25, 2003: Five people were killed when suicide bombers targeted a convoy of President General Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi.

February 28, 2004: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi.

May 7, 2004: Fifteen people lost their life in a suicide attack in Mithadar, Karachi.

July 30, 2004: A suicide bomber targeted the car of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Attock, killing six people, including the premier’s driver.

October 1, 2004: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque of Shia school of thought in Sialkot claiming 31 lives.

October 10,2004: A suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Mochi Gate, Lahore, led to the death of five people.

May 27, 2005: Twenty-five people were killed in Bari Imam Shrine, Islamabad, suicide bombing.

May 30, 2005: Attack on a Shia mosque at Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, killed six people.

February 9, 2006: Thirty-nine people lost their life in a suicide bombing in Hangu, NWFP.

March 2, 2006: A US diplomat and his Pakistani driver and some others lost their life in a suicide bombing in Karachi.

June 26, 2006: Six security personnel were killed when a suicide bomber targeted Aisha checkpoint in Miranshah, NWFP.

July 14, 2006: A suicide bomber killed Allama Hassan Turabi, a prominent Shia leader, in Karachi.

November 8, 2006: Forty-one cadets were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at Punjab Regimental Center, Dargai.

January 22, 2007: Attack on an FC convoy in Mirali (Tribal Area) claimed three innocent lives.

January 26, 2007: A suicide bomber blew himself up at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, killing a security guard.

January 27, 2007: Twelve people lost their life when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shia gathering in Peshawar.

January 29 2007: Attack near Liaquat Park, D.I Khan, killed one policeman.

February 3,2007: A man was killed when a suicide bomber rammed his car in a military convoy in Taank, North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

February 6, 2007: Police killed a suicide bomber at Islamabad International Airport.

February 17, 2007: Sixteen people were killed in an attack on a civil judge, Abdul Wahid Durrani, in Quetta, Balochistan. The judge survived the attack.

March 29,2007: A person was killed in an attack on Army Drivers Training Center, Kharian.

April 28, 2007: Thirty people lost their life and Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a public meeting in Charsada, NWFP.

May 15, 2007: Twenty-four people were killed in a suicide bombing at Hotel Marhaba, Peshawar.

July 4, 2007: Five army personnel lost their life when a military truck was targeted in Swat.

July 12, 2007: One person was killed when a suicide bomber exploded himself outside the office of political agent.

July 14 2007: Eighteen army personnel were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a military convoy near Daz Narai, Miranshah, North Waziristan Agency.

July 15, 2007: Nineteen people were killed when a suicide bomber exploded himself at Police Line, DI Khan, NWFP.

July 15, 2007: Eighteen people were killed when a bomber rammed his vehicle into a military convoy in Matta, Swat.

July 14: 2007: Eighteen people were killed when a bomber attacked a military convoy in Miranshah.

July 17, 2007: Five people lost their life when a suicide bomber exploded himself in Mir Ali, NWA. The same day a suicide targeted a lawyers convention in F-8 Markaz, Islamabad, killing 17 people.

July 19, 2007: Five people were killed when a bomber rammed his car in Hungu police training center.

July 20,2007: Attack on an FC check post at Boya, Miranshah, claimed two lives.

July 27, 2007: A suicide attack at Aabpara, Islamabad, took 13 lives.

August 4, 2007: Attack in Kurram Agency killed seven people.

August 17, 2007: A suicide attack was carried out in Tank, NWFP, injuring three security personnel.

August 18, 2007: Two attacks were carried out in North Waziristan Agency and Bannu killing one person.

August 20, 2007: Attack in Hangu killed three persons.

August 24, 2007: Attack in Miranshah claimed three lives.

August 26, 2007: Attack in Swat killed four people.

September 1, 2007: Attack in Bajaur Agency killed five people. Another attack took place in Jandola the same day. However, there were no fatalities.

September 4, 2007: Twenty-five people lost their life in two suicide attacks in Rawalpindi Cantonment.

September 14, 2007: Attack at an elite battalion of Pakistan Army in Tarbela Ghazi claimed life of 20 personnel.

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