Survivors recall shrine blast horror

By Aijaz Mahar
BBC Urdu service

"This is like doomsday," said Syed Riaz Hussain Shah as he surveyed the site of the blast at a Muslim shrine in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Like hundreds of other devotees, Mr Shah had travelled a long distance to attend the five-day festival at the shrine of Bari Imam.

People were crying or searching among the dead

The man standing next to him was crying hysterically: "I still haven't found my friends and relatives."

Everywhere one looked, there were similar scenes. Some survivors were weeping; others were frantically searching among the dead and the injured for loved ones.

As often happens, the capital city's press corps reached the site of the blast before the police.

Journalists walking through the main door could see several dead bodies lying to their right - the spot where the bomb had gone off.

Members of the Mukhtar Force - a volunteer force that looks after the shrine's security - covered the dead bodies with cloth.

One witness, SM Shirazi, told the BBC Urdu service that the bomb went off soon after a Shia delegation had reached the shrine.

Another survivor, Mohammed Shahid, blamed police for the lapse in security that allowed the bomber in: "Why were they not in the shrine, keeping an eye on everyone?"

Mr Shahid said the policemen posted at the shrine were outside at the time of the blast, sipping tea at a nearby kiosk.

High security

The shrine of Bari Imam is located between the prime minister's house and the Quaid-e-Azam university.

PAKISTAN'S SECTARIAN DIVIDE Shias revere Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed Pakistan is 20% Shia, 70% Sunni Violence between Sunni and Shia factions began in early 1980s More than 150 people have died in the past year alone About 4,000 people have been killed in total Most violence takes place in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab Pakistan's schisms

It is a high-security zone as the diplomatic enclave which houses most foreign missions is nearby.

Shortly after the blast, the entire area was cordoned off by a heavy police contingent.

Emergency departments of all hospitals in the city were put on high alert and additional ambulances were summoned from the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi to take the injured to hospitals.

Police officials later said the bombing most probably had sectarian motives behind it.

They said people from all sects - even non-Muslims - attended the festival on the first four days. But the last day was always reserved for Shia Muslims.