October 07, 2004

Pakistan Bombing Prompts Ban on Gatherings

Pakistan announced a ban on religious and political gatherings nationwide after a bomb attack against Sunni Muslim radicals in a central city early Thursday killed at least 39 people and wounded about 100 others.

Police suspected it was a sectarian attack, and army troops were deployed to keep order in Multan, where about 2,000 angry Sunnis gathered outside a hospital where victims were taken, shouting "Shiites are infidels!" and slogans against the government.

The bombing came less than a week after a suicide attack left 31 dead at a Shiite mosque in an eastern city.
[...]
Sunni Muslims make up about 80 percent of the 150 million people in Pakistan, and most of the rest are Shiites. The vast majority of both sects live in harmony but radical elements on both sides carry out attacks.

"Sectarian," huh? Get used to this, people!
It has the ring about it that feels as if the MSM will be using it for a long time...anything but call them what they are--Islamofascist terrorists.

And I do hope that Freedom of Assembly, which we've enjoyed in the U.S. from our founding, isn't a right that's held too dearly in Pakistan.
This "ban on public gatherings" sounds like another name for martial law but maybe it's just me.