Shaukat Aziz survives suicide bomb attack

ATTOCK, July 30 (Online): As many as 11 people were killed while 30 others received injuries as a suicide bomber detonated the explosive wrapped with his body in an election rally of Federal Finance Minister and Prime Minister in-waiting Shaukat Aziz on Friday evening .
Shaukat however, narrowly survived the attack. The killed include bomber, five policemen and similar number of civilians, the hospital sources said .

Shaukat was heading towards his car after addressing a rally at Jafar Mor near Fateh Jang town when the suicide bomber blew him up near the car. The driver of Shaukat's car was also killed on the spot .

The security men promptly took out Shaukat Aziz from the incident place. Attock District Nazim Major (retd) Tahir Sadiq and Punjab Minister Col (retd) Anwar were also accompanying the federal minister on the occasion .

Tahir Sadiq remained unhurt but Anwar received minor injuries .

The explosion caused a stampede on the incident place. The ambulances took the injured persons to hospital. Some of the injured have been shifted to Pinid and Islamabad hospitals owing to their serious conditions while rest of them are being treated at Attock District Headquarter Hospital .

Shaukat is going to contest National Assembly election from the constituency NA-59 Attock III, and he was busy in electioneering campaign in the area for the last few days .

PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain said that Shaukat Aziz was safe as he talked to him telephonically while Shaukat Aziz himself appeared on state run television later. He was quite safe and normal .

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Ch Shujaat Hussain have condemned the incident and vowed that government would not deter by the cowardly terrorist attacks .