Times of India : Pakistani police release photo of Karachi bomber

Pakistani police release photo of Karachi bomber

Reuters | October 20, 2007

KARACHI: Pakistani police released a photograph on Saturday of a suicide bomber who killed more than 130 people, as Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto worked out her next step after the bloody start to her comeback campaign.

The militant threat demonstrated to such devastating effect in Karachi on Friday raised fears over the prospects for a national election due in early January that is supposed to mark a transition from military-led to civilian-led democracy.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters in Lahore the election schedule would not be affected, and caretaker governments would be in place at federal and provincial levels after November 15. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, however, voiced concern that campaigning could be restricted due to security worries. Both Aziz and Sherpao have survived suicide attacks.

Urdu language newspapers carried passport-sized photographs of the head of the suicide bomber propped on a white sheet. The dead eyes stared blankly out of the chubby, unshaven face, the heavy growth apparent around the jawline and top lip. The man appeared to be in his twenties.

"The age of suspect is in between 20 to 25 and he looks to be a Karachi resident," a security official, who requested not to be identified, said.

A police statement said at least 139 people died in Friday's attack and 325 were wounded.

On Saturday, a car bomb killed four people in the southwestern province of Baluchistan.

Suicide bombings have multiplied since the army stormed the Lal Masjid in the capital Islamabad to crush an armed student movement last July.