ehtasab

ISLAMABAD: At least eight people were killed and 20 others were injured in an explosion on Tuesday night in Islamabad's Sihala neighbourhood , police said.

Police sources told Dawn that the blast was caused by an explosive device.

Earlier, the police had described the incident as a gas cylinder blast, but shortly after said that the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out.

Most of the victims were eating when the improvised explosive device (IED) planted at the roadside hotel went off, police officer Moin Ahmed told AFP.

The blast left a crater outside the hotel, located close to Sihala police station, a security official said.

The hotel was owned by two brothers. One died in the blast and the other was injured, the police officer said, adding that it was an act of terrorism.

Police, quoting witnesses, said a man dropped a shopping bag containing explosives outside the hotel and disappeared. It exploded shortly afterwards.

The blast was so devastating that it severely damaged the restaurant, its furniture and a taxi parked nearby.

The incident occurred in the compound of the restaurant while the gas pipeline was outside the compound. Officials of the gas company also rejected the notion that the blast had taken place in the pipeline.

Omer Wali, a cook, said he was cooking meal when the explosion occurred and he was not aware what caused the explosion. Nearly 15 to 20 people were eating their meal when the explosion rocked the restaurant.

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Is it change in modus oper@ndi of Taliban/AlQaida or is it some other elements active now? Have TTP run out of "suicide-bombers"?

Tariq Akhtar

What does anyone prove by attacking a little rdside eatery? Sound like some local score, probably some mulla promoted

ehtasab

It could be, someone might have used the opportunity to blame it on "terrorism" while scoring.

It is also very possible that some other elements have become active to destabilise the country further.

md_minhas

You have a muslim sounding name and you blame mullahs for everything? Mullahs are nice, peace loving people who try to give us the message of Islam and make sure everyone follows Islam as well issuing Khutba in the mosque... why is every1 angry with the mullahs?

ehtasab

May be you can start living between "the mullahs" who are recruiting suicide bombers, who are killing people every other day then you can come back and tell us how "nice" they are.

md_minhas

again.. reading newspaper and watching tv and believing what you see...! Could you tell me one thing... have you ever lived in Pakistan? Karachi doesn't count..

mysti

living halfway across the world and relying on the TV and the Newspapers to make sure our families are safe.. what else is a person supposed to believe?
we cant blame anyone but then who can we hold responsible for the innocent lives lost? just a random person who umm happened to carry explosives in a bag with him.. or someone just passing by and blowing themselves up under the banner of jehad?

ive lived in islamabad most of my life.. my husband is from karachi.. and yes its true that just because one person isnt right doesnt mean everyone is wrong.. we rely on the news -because there are times when the light goes out for 16-18 hrs a day and no one can get to the phone..
ohh and why doesnt karachi count? isnt tht a part of pakistan??

md_minhas

You should talk to people(your families, relatives etc.) and make sure what they say is whats true. Why blame Mullahs for the lives lost? In most of the cases its the Indians who carry out this act... cuz they never wanted Pakistan to prosper and gain independence from them before they got freedom from the britishers. Karachi doesn't' count because Karachi isn't what most of Pakistan is... Karachi is more like west.. .women without burqa, guys without beard, and offices and buildings trying to make Karachi look like a western city- this was not Quaid's or Allama Iqbal's dream- they wanted a Pakistan which would be simple, humble and Islamic and not necessarily western or modern.

Umer

As if all Pakistani women outside Karachi wear Burqa and all guys have beards. You make Pakistan sound like Saudi Arabia.

And of course it was Quaid's dream for Pakistan to be a modern Muslim state. He was a modern Muslim himself!!!!

hanibal

^^ How do u define "Modern Muslim"?

yazdi

Keep Quaideazam out of your taliban dreams...If you want to keep beard and want your women to wear burqas...nobody in Pakistan is stopping you....and that's what is called religious freedom...however if you are more concerned about other people's burqas and beards...my friend this country is not suitable for you...you are absolutely right that this is not the country of your dreams...you should seriuosly think about moving somewhere else...the only room for you in this country is a facility treating people with mental disabilities....

hanibal

So u r saying Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam was supporting a country with tents and huts?

Panthr3ss

so wht r they supposed to live in caves..like ur taliban bros..omg thiz guy needs sum serious mental help here..

ehtasab

If Karachi is not considered part of Pakistan then I never lived in Pakistan and I am not a Pakistani

Dude Lahore, Multan, Islamabad and many other cities are not any different than Karachi, if Karachi is not Pakistan then no other city is Pakistan.

ravage

i agree with md_minhas, mullay bhi insan hotay hain

iReport

Quaid-e-Azam would never support a country with suicide bombers or a country that would go into stone age...

Also the country can be modern and still be simple, humble, and islamic...

mysti

we talk to our family members every day for your kind info.. the only problem is the fact that you dont get what it means to see people die everyday in the name of Allah not knowing that what they are doing is the biggest hell that they can make for themselves.. how can u say that the indians carry these acts out, do u have proof? what proof do u have that its not the mullahs? or the taliban for that matter?
Karachi is a part of Pakistan.. just because a small percentage of people dont wear a burqa or dont have beards doesnt mean its not a part of pakistan.. Quaid-e-Azam's dream was a democratic, islamic state.. a state where a person could pray in the name of Allah freely.. this doesnt mean that karachi is not included.. how can u say that being westernized is not wat Quaid wanted? & plus aajkal I dont think any of the politicians going around and claiming a right to sit as ministers or even the PM or President of Pakistan even recall what exactly our ancestors fought for..

yazdi

magar sirf mullah he insaaan nahey hotay....I request you to read his post carefully before agreeing so swiftly with md_minhas...

Umer

Someone who understands that Islam and Modernity are not opposites. Someone who's not mentally stuck in the early years of Islamic history and recognizes that you can be a very good Muslim as long as you follow the principles of Islam (praying 5 times a day, avoid interest/alcohol/zina, etc.) and at the same time participate in today's modern society. And that includes working professionally in offices that happen to be in skyscrapers. Btw, I am bearded myself and my wife wears the Hijab, but that doesn't give me the right to bash anyone who choses not to.

Sanaullah

Assalamu alaikum to Sunni Muslims

Yes we know all about "modern" Islam and "modern" Muslim. All you have to do is read namaz and eat halal gosht, than you are perfectly fine. You are making Islam into a joke. Islam is the best and only true religion. Don't pick and choose what you want to follow, accept Islam entirely, like it says in Quran e Majeed: O you who believe, enter perfectly into Islam (al-Baqarah 2:208)

Islam is complete way of life. Only Quran and Sunnat is giving you the total guidance, how to eat, sleep, pray, business, dress, manners, etc. Everything in life is covered by Islam. You have to follow everything. There is no such thing "modern" Muslim. Look why today Pakistan is in so much problems? Because the people have no taqwa, their womens are not observing purdah, instead they are going to school to get educated and disobey their parents and husband. Look at the mens they are not growing bear, they are shaving their beard and keeping huge mustache like Hindus. They are listening to haram music day and night and never listening to Quran. This is very sad situation of the Muslims and why Allah Taala is very angry and punishing us.