The Pakistani Spectator

Before coming to facts and figures of suicide bombing before gates of Pakistan Ordinance Factories, Wah Cantonment, I want to narrate a true story, which also may be found on www.youtube.com with the title “How a suicide bomber is born”. Story of the same kind was narrated by my co-writer Mr Talal Hussain Malik (which he observed during his tour to Murree Hills) some week ago:

In words of the teller (wording may differ):

” I am 18 years old, I lived in Bajour, I have old parents my father is on bed for ten years (he is above 70 years), my mother is in post 60s and she had developed a disease due to which she can see a bit in broad day light only. My elder brother is married having four children.

I had a sister getting education in boarding school in Islamabad named ‘JAMIA HAFSA’. In July 2007 when government forces attacked Jamia Hafsa killing hundreds of innocent children and ladies, I was asked by my mother that go there and meet your sister. I reached Jamia Hafsa (Islamabad) and searched for my sister but in vain, her name was not in the list of dead, her name was not in the list of survived ones, her name was not in the list of captured ones. Where she was?

For next two nights, I searched for her body in near by drain where I found bodies flesh, after being humiliated through phosphorus bombs. I found a lady finger that looked like my sister’s one, I returned to my home (Bajour) and told my father that I was unable to meet my sister there, when I came to my mother and gave her that lady finger and told her that I found this part of body of my sister. My mother (who only can see a bit in broad day light) sniffed that finger then she started weeping. She told me that’s not hers but she is daughter of a mother so burry it in grave. When I was about to complete the burial, I got message from my home that my mother died, my elder brother asked me to remain in graveyard and arrange for mother’s grave. He went home for funeral arrangements and returned with dead body of my mother with a bunch of people. We were about to finish the funeral of my mother gunship helicopters came and start shelling. Many of us died in the graveyard including my elder brother. I placed his dead body between the graves of my sister and my mother and I ran towards home. I found my father, wife & children of my elder brother except two children one boy and one girl. I took them and ran from that area to save our lives during this traveling that girl died by falling and we both ran from there and some how reached Karachi”.

“I am telling this story to young son of my deceased brother, can you tell me who is the future suicide bomber?”

Aaahhh . . .! (Reading this article till now: have you been able to come to a conclusion, in my view may be a little bit as we have become too selfish to feel the grief of others)

Lets come the brutal event in the history of suicide bombing occurred in POF Wah Cantonment:

On 23^rd day of August 2008, the Thursday, after 1400 hrs (which is the leave time of Shift, as it’s a huge area people come out around 1430 hrs or so), from main gate of Pakistan Ordinance Factories the first bunch comes out (who live towards southern side of factories) around 400~500 people, the other gate behind Aslam Market a relatively lesser people come out. These people are so poor that they even cannot afford lunch and bring their own lunch from home may be a ‘Roti’ and some pickle or so. They are employed there and may only earn at an average 100~150 USD per month in lieu of their salaries.

Through an eye-witness:

The first batch came out, a person came on motorbike and reached within them and there was an explosion, which made his body parts flew in the air. POF Wah employee exposed to that danger also fell on the ground, and who remained safe being on the third or fourth tier ran inside the gate to protect them-selves. More than 100 casualties witnessed at the spot, wounding many dozen here.

After 5 to 6 seconds another explosion heard at a distance of 500 ~ 600 meter on another gate (behind Aslam Market). People (eye witness) told TPS that a person came on a motorbike and reached near us and exploded himself killing around 60 POF workers at the spot and many dozen wounded also.

Some people say there was a third explosion also but in that hustle people could not differentiate the third one.

Position at POF Wah Hospital:

There was no place to keep such a huge quantity wounded persons and dead bodied. Some critically wounded were shifted to Hospital in Taxila and Rawalpindi (CMH and PIMS). People remained there holding pages to request for the blood groups for their loved ones. Negative series blood was scarce in blood bank.

How third (may be fourth) suicide bomber was captured:

During the survey of The Pakistani Spectator, an information came to knowledge that now a days there are numerous successful events of stealing of vehicle Suzuki ‘Carry”. These vehicles are hired by many schools for pick & drop facility to teachers and children and individuals to reach at work place. Some Suzuki ‘Carry’ owners also give pick and drop facilities to the private sector employees employed in Islamabad.

To protect stealing of such vehicle on gun point, every customer is asked to provide a copy of national identity card so that his/her permanent address can be pen down in the register of association. In case of any happening they may provide this information to police.

A person came (after the blasts) to a Suzuki “Carry” owner and asked to go to his destination (some people say he wanted to go NWFP city of ‘CHARSADDAH’ (110 Kilometers away from Wah), the driver asked for copy of ID card which that prospect suicide bomber was unable to provide, that customer then went to another vehicle (Suzuki ‘Carry’) the same reply was given by the next driver, then he went to the third vehicle and asked for hiring it to his destination, the third driver again asked for the same document, that customer put his hand in his pocket and pulled out many dozen currency notes and asked the driver that you should be concerned with your money only. The driver asked him to sit –in. He drove his vehicle up to security official, stopped it, and ran out of it, telling security staff loudly please catch him he will explode himself. Security staff deployed there arrested him and upon his body search security found a belt with nails and based on his initial information a jacket (loaded with explosive) was recovered from a mosque behind Aslam Market (in front of ‘Gided Hotel’, a tea bar) and Imam of that mosque has also been arrested.

POF is basically involved in production of ammunition for Pakistan Army, due to emergency preparedness, 20 coffins are available for any emergency. After these blasts 280 coffins were prepared means 280 confirm dead in these blast.

After these blasts security agencies started extensive search operations and captured many evidences, which may lead us more information regarding these blasts.

Just think for a moment, a person dies from a family who is the only source of earning for them, what happens to that family? Is an amount of Rs 3 lakh sufficient for whole life of the deceased family? After paying such amount or Rs 1 lakh to wounded (may became disable to do earn) government has completed its responsibility? Or giving a job to successors may heal their wounds? Can we prevent another suicide bomber born due to this event? Was “Quaid Ka Pakistan” made for such events, poor remained sacrificing since 1947 and our political leadership is involved in safeguarding their own flesh and interests.

Dear brothers & sisters, time to re-re-re-think our policies. Spare some time to say many thanks to the Almighty that your are reading this post. Residents of Wah Cantonment are harassed and full of anger. In my personal view this is a very dangerous state a living being may have (either human or animal).

I participated in a small overs flood light cricket match to boost the moral and to project that we are not afraid of such events.

Blood of deceased and tears of their families will never remain silent, it will speak out and its resonance will be unbearable. Please don’t remain silent on this event, speak out what we want and what we don’t want. If we can give indemnity to killers & looters then let the suicide bombers be free of any charge.

We are collapsing, are not we?

May the departed souls rest in eternal peace, may Almighty keep the families of 280 deceased on the right path and away from social crimes and injustice, Ameen.

Last 5 posts by revo

• Wah Cantt Suicide Attacks : Mastermind Arrested and Stunning Facts - August 23rd, 2008
• Profile of Joe Biden : Next VP OF United States - August 23rd, 2008
• Account of Victim of Suicide Attack in Wah Cantt - August 22nd, 2008
• Two Suicide Bomb Blasts in Wah Cantt, Taxila - August 21st, 2008
• Series of Blasts in Karachi - July 7th, 2008