Friday, June 12, 2009

Anti-Taliban Pakistani Cleric Killed In Pakistan Blast

anti-taliban-pakistani-cleric-killed-in-pakistan-blastA prominent anti-Taliban Pakistani cleric has been killed in one of two blasts which have gone off in Pakistan.

Maulana Sarfraz Naeemi was killed in a suicide bomb attack in Lahore, police have confirmed.

The moderate cleric was attacked at his mosque complex just after leading Friday prayers.

Mr Naeemi was nationally recognised for being critical of the Taliban.

A separate car-bomb blast also killed at least three people near a mosque in the northwestern town of Nowshera.

Police chief Abdullah Khan said the second bomb had wounded 32 people and feared that some were dead.

In Lahore, 10 people were injured outside Jamia Naeemia mosque.

The blasts came as Pakistani forces stepped up attacks on militants across the northwest after the US House of Representatives decided to triple their aid to Pakistan.

Security forces have made progress in more than a month of fighting against Taliban militants.

Police in the northwest province said the military had fired artillery through the night at militant positions in the Jani Kheil area.


"Since sunrise, helicopter gunships have also being used in the attack," police officer Sami Ullah said.

Military officers said they had killed more than 130 militants in the fighting. But the militants have responded with a series of bomb attacks in recent days.

Pakistan is a vital security ally for the US as it struggles to stabilise neighbouring Afghanistan and defeat al-Qaeda.

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