Asia-Pacific
Police: Bomb near Pakistan intel office kills 12
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-08 17:24
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 Shopkeepers and a policeman survey the site a day after suicide blasts in Lahore December 8, 2009. [Agencies] |
Authorities initially said both bombs at the market were believed to be remote-controlled, but they later said a suicide bomber was suspected to have detonated at least one of them.
Earlier Monday, a suicide bomber killed 10 people outside a courthouse in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
By attacking Lahore and Multan, militants are bringing their war to the heart of Pakistan. Both are cities in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, and one far from the northwest regions where al-Qaida and the Taliban have more easily proliferated.
Peshawar has been a more frequent target. The northwestern city lies on the main road into the lawless tribal belt. Of all the attacks since the start of October, the deadliest occurred in Peshawar, where at least 112 people were killed in a bombing at another market.
The rise in militant attacks comes amid growing political turbulence, especially regarding the future of President Asif Ali Zardari, a pro-US leader hugely unpopular here.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court continued examining the legality of an amnesty protecting him and 8,000 other officials from graft prosecution. The amnesty expired last month, and judges must rule on whether to reopen corruption cases against them.
Although Zardari has immunity from prosecution as president, some experts say the court could now take up cases challenging his eligibility to run for office.
