DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234133
TITLE=PAK VIOLENCE (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO BOMBS HAVE EXPLODED, INJURING AT LEAST 12-PEOPLE IN
PAKISTAN'S TROUBLED PORT CITY OF KARACHI. CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH
BUEL REPORTS.
TEXT: POLICE TELL V-O-A THE FIRST BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE THE MAIN
ENTRANCE OF THE KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE, LOCATED IN THE CITY'S
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. POLICE SAY THE BOMB WAS HIDDEN IN A
MOTORCYCLE.
WITNESSES SAY THERE WAS A POWERFUL EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY A LARGE
CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE LOUD BLAST PANICKED BROKERS, INVESTORS AND
EMPLOYEES WHO RAN FOR SHELTER AFTER THE EXPLOSION.
V-O-A REPORTER GULAM HASNAIN ARRIVED AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE
SHORTLY AFTER THE BOMB EXPLODED.
// HASNAIN ACT //
THE EXPLOSION DAMAGED AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE MOTORCYCLES. THERE
ARE A COUPLE OF CARS WHOSE WINDOW SHIELDS HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY THE
IMPACT OF THE BLAST. THEN THIS EIGHT STORY BUILDING -- YOU CAN
SEE A LOT OF BROKEN WINDOW PANES.
// END ACT //
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KARACHI STOCK
EXCHANGE -- MOHAMMAD YASIN LAKHANI -- SAYS THE MARKET WILL REMAIN
OPEN.
// LAKHANI ACT //
WELL WE ARE GOING TO FIRM UP OUR OWN SECURITY FURTHER. WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE COWED-DOWN BY ANY OF THESE KINDS OF TERRORIST
ACTS. WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST THEM AND WE DO NOT NEED TO
PLAY THEIR GAMES BY CLOSING DOWN THE MARKET OR TRYING TO PANIC.
// END ACT //
SHORTLY AFTER THE BOMBING AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE A SECOND BOMB
EXPLODED OUTSIDE A PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING IN
KARACHI. THAT BOMB WAS ALSO HIDDEN IN A MOTORCYCLE.
NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLASTS.
THE EXPLOSIONS ARE THE LATEST INCIDENTS IN A WAVE OF VIOLENCE
THAT HAS GRIPPED PAKISTAN'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL.
POLICE SAY MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IS DUE TO A RIVALRY BETWEEN THE
M-Q-M POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND A BREAK-AWAY FACTION KNOWN AS "M-Q-M
HAQIQI".
POLICE HAVE ARRESTED MANY MILITANTS FROM BOTH GROUPS, BUT HAVE
HAD LITTLE SUCCESS CURBING THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS WRACKED KARACHI
FOR YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/RAE
18-Jun-98 8:31 AM EDT (1231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
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