Post-Lal Masjid suicide attacks so far claim 4300 lives in Pak

Islamabad, July 5 : If the official data collected and published by a Pakistani daily is to be believed, around 4300 people, including 740 security personnel and former premier Benazir Bhutto, have been killed in different suicide attacks throughout the country since the Lal Masjid debacle last year.

The seven-day operation against the Lal Masjid administration was launched on July 03 last year, in which a number of Lal Masjid students, including girls, were also killed.

A wave of suicide bombings linked to the debacle followed, starting on an attack on a contingent of the security forces in South Waziristan when it was on its way to Bannu via Mir Ali, killing 11 people, including six security personnel, reported The News.

During the wave of nationwide attacks, former prime minister Benazir was also assassinated by gunshots simultaneously followed by a suicide blast. The data collected from various sources reveal that during July-December 2007, a total of 44 suicide blasts claimed 2729 lives, including 484 security personnel.

A greater part of the casualties occurred during the month of Nov 2007, claiming 728 victims, while 22 suicide attacks were carried out during Jan 2008-03 July 2008, in which 1570 persons, including 256 security personnel, had fallen victim. Totally, 8330 persons have fallen victim to different suicide attacks and bomb blasts since 2003-2008.

ANI