KP law minister among eight killed in DI Khan suicide attack
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PESHAWAR: At least eight people, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa law minister Israrullah Gandapur, were killed Wednesday when a suicide bomber exploded outside his residence in Dera Ismail Khan, police said.
More than 30 people were wounded in the attack, including Gandapur's elder brother, said Irfan Mahsud, the assistant commissioner in Dera Ismail Khan.
Deputy Superintendent of police, Jan Mohammad Khan, confirmed the minister’s death.
Provincial health minister Shaukat Yousafzai also confirmed Gandupar's death. “I talked to the minister's brother and he told me that Gandapur has been martyred," he said.
According to eyewitnesses, the provincial law minister was exchanging Eid greetings with people at his residence in tehsil Kullachi, about 50 kilometres from Dera Ismail Khan, when the suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest.
“I saw so many dead people and injured people crying for help,” said eyewitness Haseeb Khan, whose new white holiday clothes were drenched in blood. “There were arms, legs and heads everywhere.”
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.
Gandapur was a member of the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), a party led by former cricketer Imran Khan which favours peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.
He is the most senior member of the party to have been killed so far.
Party chief Imran Khan condemned the killing of the Gandapur and directed the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to bring those responsible for the incident to justice as soon as possible.
The Pakistani Taliban have said they are open to talks. But they also say they will not disarm, do not recognise the Pakistani constitution, and will not talk to the government until the army pulls back from their strongholds and all their prisoners are released.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the incident.
“Pakhtunkhwa lost an astute parliamentarian, a decent Pashtun and a brave leader in the martyrdom of Israr Gandapur. May he rest in peace,” tweeted prominent politician Afrasiab Khattak.
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On DawnNews
Oct 16, 2013 06:15pm
Appeasing the Taliban results in another failure.
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Oct 16, 2013 06:50pm
some non-state actors don't want to see Pakistan in peace....by sabotaging the peace in the country amidst strengthening view of talks among public with taliban is a clear indication that enemies donot want talks but WAR... may Allah show them the right path and grant patience to the reminisce of the departed soul.
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Oct 16, 2013 06:56pm
So this is because they are not allowed to open an 'Office'???
IK, you will tire from apologizing, but they won't.
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Oct 16, 2013 07:19pm
Bad news hai, but sochne ki baat ye hai k sare attacks KPK per he kyon ho rahe hein...
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Oct 16, 2013 07:30pm
so these useless peace talks working really well looks like?
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Oct 16, 2013 07:36pm
When is this madness going to stop?
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Oct 16, 2013 07:31pm
Oh! The Condemnations. Condemnations and more Condemnations. Then come the Negotiations, Negotiations and more Negotiations with the terrorists. Makes perfect sense. Doesn't it?
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Oct 16, 2013 07:49pm
Imran Khan, I am a diehard follower of PTI. But your strategy of having peace talks with Taliban while they kill innocent Pakistanis at will, is annoying and disheartening to many of your followers. While no one is denying the good work your government has undertaken in KPK, it's time you push for crushing the Taliban menace once and for all. You don't have to look too far to see that peace can only be brought about in a country when you adopt a policy of going after the terrorists. Sri Lanka has done it with Tamils Tigers (ironically with Pakistan Military's help), India has done it in many states and Iran did the same with Jundullah.. For heaven's sake, it's no time for political gimmicks. It's human lives we are talking about. The longer you wait, the stronger and harder to eliminate they will get.
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Oct 16, 2013 07:49pm
Nah !! Khan sahib this can't be Taliban, surely some external forces wants to destabilize KPK govt.
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Oct 16, 2013 08:06pm
iss ka qatil har woh admi hay ju taliban kay office khulwanay kay chakar main hay .. aur uss kay khayal main taliban bohat hee dukhee log hain !!
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Oct 16, 2013 08:09pm
The Taliban are committing blasphemy by kiling a fellow Muslim on Eid , and in clear violation of the sermon by the Grand Mufti of mecca during this year's Haj.
Will the PTI's Imran Khan still want talks with these animals?
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Oct 16, 2013 08:16pm
So Mr Imran Khan, another conspiracy against peace talks. Right? Keep waiting till they come for you as well.
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Oct 16, 2013 08:28pm
Does Mr. Khan of the PTI still believes in negotiation with the thugs and murderers?
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Oct 16, 2013 08:32pm
Where is Imran Khan? The biggest campaigner of the peace with Taliban?????
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Oct 16, 2013 08:43pm
Gandapur was a member of the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), a party led by former cricketer Imran Khan which favours peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.
Such incidents will force IK of PTI to change his mind set. If he does not, it will be bad luck for Pakistan. May Allah save motherland from such cruels who do not spare innocents even on sacred occasions.
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Oct 16, 2013 09:04pm
If you would read the comments and opinions of Pakistanis it would seem like that it is Malala who is behind these bombings.
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Oct 16, 2013 09:25pm
Sad loss on such a holy day.A slap in the face for PTI - obviously it does matter , when one of their own is the victim, but not the innocent Shia's and Hazara's.Let's see who imran now blames-time to blame everybody with his cock and bull nonsense !This is no bat and ball game, for death can come to one and all anytime , any place
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Oct 16, 2013 09:39pm
Killing of thousands of innocent people by the terrorists proves that these militants do not deserve any mercy. Political and military top brass should come on same page to eliminate this foreign sponsored terrorism. In fact PTI , Jamiat Islami, PML(N) and others religious parties should openly condemn TTP and others terrorists.
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Oct 16, 2013 09:40pm
When a senior PTI worker was martyred in Karachi, workers all over the world came out to protest against the killing. They were able to make a difference, even British police HAD to respond.
I believe Mr Gnadapurs sacrfice should trigger a simillar if not bigger but peacefull reaction.
Dr Abdul Hafeez Siddiqui, USA
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Oct 16, 2013 09:38pm
pakistan go after these people with allyou got or the nation will perish
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Oct 16, 2013 09:53pm
Well, Imran. You still want to talk to the Taliban?
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Oct 16, 2013 10:09pm
Hey IK! Do you still believe that you can talk to these animals who slaughter people during Eid? They have already stated their condition that they do not recognize Pakistan's constitution, will not disarm, want all their killer associates released before they will consider talking--i.e surrender of Pakistan's sovereignty to them. Time to wake-up as they are killers demeaning the religion that they profess to follow.
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Oct 16, 2013 10:19pm
Go ahead Mr. Imran Khan. Open an office for the Taliban and negotiate your law minister's death.
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Oct 16, 2013 10:34pm
good news
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Oct 16, 2013 10:52pm
the TTP are foolishly killing the people they need, soon enough all their friends will abandon them.
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Oct 16, 2013 10:50pm
IK should be releasing a statement shortly blaming this attack on drones, while avoiding any use of the words "TTP" and "Terrorist" in the same sentence!
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Oct 16, 2013 11:05pm
very said
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Oct 16, 2013 11:05pm
very sad
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Oct 16, 2013 11:47pm
And let's see what is the response of our BRAVE prime minister?most probably hide in the cloak of negotiations.
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Oct 17, 2013 12:17am
Pakistan's tribal area ruling by Taliban
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Oct 17, 2013 12:46am
It is yet clear that those who want talks with Taliban will be targeted by
the intelligence agencies of so many countries operating in pakistan.This is just a remotly detonated bomb and blamed on sucide bomber to cast the dout and blame on taliban so there will be no talks.
wake up pakistan.it will be for the best intrests of pakistan to have a ceasfire with Taliban but enemies of pakistan wont let it happen,they will continue to bleed pakistan whenever there is a chance of dailouge and will supress the voices trying to encourage the dailouge and peace..
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Oct 17, 2013 12:56am
Mr. IK! go and negotiate with them ..
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Oct 17, 2013 01:03am
And the government wants to make peace with these barbarians? These animals don't even show any respect for the day of EID by refraining from committing these acts of horror which are condemned by Islam.
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Oct 17, 2013 01:28am
I know that Pakistan is a resilient country. And as an indian, I wish to visit there someday. I hope peace can reign over this region
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Oct 17, 2013 01:35am
This ghastly act can only draw condemnation from all peace-loving people of Pakistan. We Muslims were recently exhorted to refrain from all such gruesome activities at the culmination of the Annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Sounds like the "Khutba" by the Grand Mufti fell on deaf ears. The perpetrators need to be apprehended immediately with no excuses whatsoever. Let the law of the land prevail from now and hereon. The incident happened on an auspicious day of EID, which is being celebrated for reasons known to everyone in the Ummah, and should be considered nothing less than 'grave' and unacceptable by the Pakistani authorities.
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Oct 17, 2013 02:01am
IK do you still want to have talk with these barbarians? How many innocent people have to die before you and Feds decide we need to eradicate them.
TTP doesn't want to lay their arms, don't accept Pakistani constitution, Army to leave and ALL the prisoners to be released. What's left to negotiate?
It is clear they don't want to have peace until they take over the entire country and turn it into ruins. How dense one has to be before you get the loud and clear message.
We have a powerful army, do we not?
KP is Pakistani territory, is it not?
They have killed thousands of people, that a crime, is it not?
They do not recognise Pakistani constitution, that is treachery, is it not?
Then what is the Pakistani leadership waiting for? Are they cowards?
Take action before it is too late!!!
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Oct 17, 2013 02:18am
Will this event change Imran Khan's thinking about TTP?
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Oct 17, 2013 02:48am
Would Imran Khan still like to open an office for these wild animals?
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Oct 17, 2013 03:56am
Mr. Imran Khan - how many more people are you going to martyr - please read the
writing on the wall, and stop your stupid support for talks. It should now be an Eye for
an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth. These are sons of Devils and have tarnished the name of
Islam. People have started moving away whenever I inform them I am a Pakistani. I feel you
will only be serious when one of your sons/family members are blown up by these elements.
I regret casting my vote for your Party. Thank God you did not become the Prime Minister
of Pakistan - for you are a big disappointed with your links to parties like the Jamaat.
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Oct 17, 2013 04:07am
I think the time for Imran has come to reconfigure his thaugts towards these irreconcilable zombies. He should realize that the only solution to this problem is total elimination of these prehistoric reptors otherwise his party members will keep dying like sitting ducks.
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Oct 17, 2013 04:43am
Sorry to hear about blood shed in DIKhan. Shame on Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif, you still want to do peace talks with terrorists. Terrorists are killing every day innocent people on name of Islam.
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Oct 17, 2013 04:52am
Mr Imran Khan, Why the people you want to talk to are bombing targetedly your party - post election!
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Oct 17, 2013 05:47am
I am helpless , i can simply condemn while those in power / authority should be doing more to find the truth instead of just condemning and giving few lakhs to injurred from tax payers money. (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the incident).
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Oct 17, 2013 06:10am
Does Imran Khan has anything to say or is he still clueless.
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Oct 17, 2013 06:22am
It is indeed a painful, sad and serious moment seeing Pakistan held hostage in the hands of those who play with human lives in the name of religion to advance their hidden agenda at the expense of peace that every human soul aspires. Last month it was Christian innocents that were massacred and now PK Law minister along with others is martyred in his own house on Eid day meeting the people in celebration. The temperature is rising while human suffering is spiraling. When and how it will end. I think a point of no return is nearly reached, the Government must take thoughtful calculated steps to nip this evil in the bud before this malignancy spreads to destroy the vitals of our country to our peril. Dr. Emile Unjom, A Christian brother.
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Oct 17, 2013 06:46am
Ansar ul Mujahideen claims responsibility because he was against DI khan jail attack so Taliban killed him
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Oct 17, 2013 07:18am
That I.K.issued instructions to KPK.govt. smacks dirty politics which he perhaps learnt from party politicians of Bharat.He is fuelling anger in some in order to avoid their wrath.
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Oct 17, 2013 08:17am
Imran Khan should hang his head in shame for his stupid policy of pandering to a murderous sect, called "Taliban". These murderers must be confronted with arms and strength head on. Nobody negotiates with criminals!
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Oct 17, 2013 08:54am
I am sure that these killers are not muslims.No muslim on earth would kill muslim brothers on the day of Eid killing so many people and injuring 30 persons rendering so many families without their Bread winners.I pray to God to give these killers Hell in this world and thereafter.
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Oct 17, 2013 09:31am
so sorry,
very tragic incident
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Oct 17, 2013 09:37am
newly elected government still failed in taking firm action against the trerrorists.as for as peace process is concerned it looks also failed,In the meanwhile country ecnomically destroying.
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Oct 17, 2013 11:09am
Bakrid mubarrak
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Oct 17, 2013 01:37pm
Is this the "Naya-Pakistan" that PTI offered us during Elections? They can't protect their law minister let alone the public at large.
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Oct 17, 2013 03:15pm
Is this because of a mind set or reaction of Drone attacks?
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Oct 17, 2013 06:19pm
Sometimes I wonder what are these policemen examining? They have enough material to examine since such a long time hat some of them could be phd in forensics. Wonder what they really do there and whom do they report to?
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Oct 17, 2013 08:37pm
The terrorists have turned this time of joy and celebration into a tragic incident for these people. Our deepest most heartfelt condolences go out to the victims
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Oct 17, 2013 09:41pm
@shabbir khan:
not mujahidin they are so called terrorists using name of islam , but they do not relate with islam
Quraan say if u kill 1 human it mean u killed al humanity .
the attack on jail was police and pak Army fault sorry to say but our Pak army what they are doing in Tank & D I Khan if they can not control the area,,,,
Or we can say They are involved with TTP to run the process of ttp with peace talks ???
by the way Ikram khan was a good person God bless his soul
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Oct 17, 2013 11:18pm
Why Mr.Imran Khan is keeping mum on this issue? Isn't it a reaction of drone attacks?
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Oct 18, 2013 01:57am
"The Pakistani Taliban have said they are open to talks. But they also say they will not disarm, do not recognise the Pakistani constitution, and will not talk to the government until the army pulls back from their strongholds and all their prisoners are released."
These demands are unacceptable and completely unreasonable -- it's as if the TTP leadership is altogether insincere in the negotiations. Let's try and negotiate with the these scumbags and see where the talks go. If they fail, Pakistan's Armed Forces should destroy this existential threat with all its might.
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Oct 18, 2013 02:37am
What does Imran Khan have to say now? Does he still favour peaceful negotiations with the terrorists????
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Oct 18, 2013 05:48am
@Mary:
Then howcome the Taliban always accept responsibility for these deeds, and never deny publicly their involvements in the attacks?
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Oct 18, 2013 09:16am
No reaction and no comments from Imran Khan and his PTI facebook and tele-complaint warriors! Perhaps Mr.Gandapur was less important and his killers were less brutal than Zohra Shahid's that jolted the entire PTI and the shocks of her death were even felt in London as well!
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Oct 18, 2013 01:05pm
@Imran:
Yes Mate ,he will, because Islam is a Religion of Peace(Quote :IMRAN kHAN).
DHAMMI
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