Plot to assassinate Musharraf foiled

Karachi, Dec 13: Pakistani intelligence agencies have foiled a plot to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf by arresting some members of al Qaeda from Karachi"s Malir area, and seizing a large amount of ammunition from their possession, sources have said.

Sources said that al Qaeda members told interrogators that they were plotting to kill Musharraf during his next trip to Karachi. The terrorists had planned to blow up the entire bridge on Drig Road at the precise moment when Musharraf"s convoy would reach there while coming from the airport to Shahrah-e-Faisal, The Online quoted sources, as saying.

They further said that two more attacks were planned in case Musharraf survived the first one.

The arrested al Qaeda members told interrogators that their plans would be carried out despite their arrest as the group had been divided into smaller groups to execute their tasks.

Earlier, in July a rocket was fired on Musharraf's plane when it was flying above Rawalpindi and the President survived the attack narrowly.

Islamic fundamentalists had reportedly threatened Musharraf with suicide bombings after he ordered a crack down on the Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

Till now there has been four unsuccessful attempts on his life. He was first attacked in 2003, but somehow he survived the bomb attack on his car.

ANI
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