Summary Details of terrorist violence in Pakistan this year.
LAHORE (Web Desk) - Pakistan has long been under attack from Tehreek-e-Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants, claiming tens of thousands of lives in over a decade.
(Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal)
Official and public opinion was galvanised against the TTP in the wake of a massacre at Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014 that left more than 150 dead -- mainly children.
One year on and an army-led crackdown has put the country on course to see the fewest casualties linked to extremist attacks since 2007.
Since last summer, Pak Army has been battling the militants in their haven of the tribal region of North Waziristan on the Afghan border, dispersing many of the fighters there, however, terrorists still managed to carry out more than thirty attacks across the country in 2015.
In the first eight months of this year, 680 civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks, compared with 1,194 in the same period last year and 2,246 in 2013, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, which monitors violence in the region.
Here are the details of this year’s terrorist attacks across Pakistan:
JANUARY
Jan 4:
A bomb targeting Shias at a volleyball match killed at least four persons and injured eight at the Hussaini ground in the Kalaya area of Orakzai Agency in FATA.
Jan 7:
Unidentified assailants shot dead four labourers while leaving another injured on the Qambarani Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Jan 8:
Four security personnel were killed and two others injured in an IED explosion apparently targeting the vehicle of security forces in Lower Kurram Agency of FATA.
Jan 9:
Eight persons were killed and 25 others wounded in a bomb blast on Imambargah Aun Muhammad Rizvi at Chittian Hattian locality of Rawalpindi city of Punjab.
Jan 9:
Four soldiers were killed and two others sustained injuries in a roadside blast when the soldiers were on a routine patrol in the Bashak area of Orakzai Agency in FATA.
Jan 12:
Seven personnel of the FC were killed and one injured when militants attacked a checkpost of the security forces in the Mekhtar area of Loralai District in Balochistan
Jan 26:
Five persons, including a retired Police SI Muhammad Salleh Shah, were killed and one sustained injuries when in a Chithar-bound pickup that was coming from Dera Murad Jamali stumbled over a landmine in the Soonwah area of Naseerabad District in Balochistan.
Jan 30:
Suicide blast hit Karbala-e-Moalla Imambargah in Shikarpur District of Sindh, killing 61 people during Friday prayers.
FEBRUARY
Feb 3:
Unidentified militants shot dead five customs officials patrolling overnight in Kohat District of KP.
Feb 13:
At least 22 people were killed and another 50 were injured during a gun and bomb attack at Imamia Masjid Imambargah in Phase-5 locality of Hayatabad area in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP when suicide attackers and gunmen, dressed in police uniform, attacked worshippers offering Friday prayers.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility.
Feb 17:
At least five people were killed and 25 injured in a suicide blast outside Police Lines in Qila Gujar Singh area of Lahore.
The site of explosion lies close to the headquarters of Pakistan Railways and Press Club.
Feb 18:
At least two people were killed and another ten injured in an attack on Qasre-e-Saqina Imambargah in Islamabad.
The assailant tried to blow himself up but his jacket malfunctioned and only partially exploded.
MARCH
March 15:
Taliban suicide bombers killed 17 people in suicide attacks on two churches in Youhanabad area of Lahore.
The bombers detonated their suicide vests outside two churches, about 600 meters (650 yards) apart. At least 70 people were wounded in the attacks.
After the attacks, angry Christian mobs blocked the highway, ransacked bus terminals and burned two people to death who they suspected of being involved in the bombings.
Later, one of the two bearded men lynched by a mob on suspicion of being accomplices of the Youhanabad church bombers was identified as Muhammad Naeem, a glass cutter.
March 18:
A polio worker was shot dead while another sustained injuries when they were fired upon while administering polio drops in Khamangra neighbourhood of Nawagai area in Bajaur tribal district.
March 27:
A bomb blast hit a police van near Murghi Khana bus stop in Karachi’s Quaidabad area, killing at least two policemen and wounding 14 other people.
The explosives, which were planted on a motorcycle, detonated as a bus of the Sindh Police’s Special Security Unit passed by.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Muhammad Khorasani had claimed responsibility for the attack.
APRIL
April 11:
Gunmen killed 20 construction workers in Turbat district of Balochistan, shooting them at point blank range after identifying they were not local.
The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) had claimed responsibility for the incident.
MAY
May 1:
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bin Qasim Abdul Fateh was gunned down in Gulshan-e-Hadeed area of Karachi.
The DSP was on a routine patrol with his driver, constable Farooq, and a guard, constable Nazeer, when motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire on the vehicle they were travelling in.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
May 10:
DSP Zulfiqar Zaidi was gunned down along with his friend in Shah Faisal Colony neighbourhood of Karachi.
DSP Zaidi was having dinner at a restaurant along with his friend Shahzad when two gunmen riding a motorcycle targeted him.
May 13:
Gunmen killed 43 people in an attack on a bus near Safoora Chowrangi in Karachi. All the passengers were from the Ismaili community who were travelling from Al-Azhar Garden to Ayesha Manzil.
Suspects involved in the incident were arrested later.
May 24:
At least three persons died and 15 others were injured in a bomb blast on RCD highway in Balochistan’s Hub city.
Reportedly, the bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked near Juma Khan Hotel.
Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Lasbela Zia Mandu Khel said that the attack took place when President Mamnoon Hussain’s son Suleman’s convoy was passing by however he escaped the attack.
May 29:
Twenty passengers traveling in two buses were shot dead in Mastung district- 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of provincial capital Quetta - by at least 15 heavily armed militants.
The passengers were traveling from Balochistan’s Pishin district in the north of the province to the southern port city of Karachi in the adjoining Sindh province.
Most of the passengers were Pashtuns.
JUNE
June 6:
Gunmen in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, opened fire on a vehicle carrying police officers, killing four of them before fleeing.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Baloch rebels and domestic militants who have been blamed for previous attacks.
June 9:
Unknown gunmen targeted a police van in Shah Latif area of Karachi, killing Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Majeed Abbas on the spot.
JULY
July 1:
Three Punjabi welders were shot dead in an ethnically motivated attack at a shop in Sirki Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
July 6:
Three Hazara Shia, including a policeman among them, were killed while another woman inured in a suspected sectarian attack when unidentified assailants opened fire outside the passport office on the Joint Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
July 27:
Two policemen and a woman were killed when unidentified militants attacked the convoy of SP Zahoor Afridi on Sariab Road area in Quetta of Balochistan. One militant was also killed in retaliatory fire.
July 28:
Malik Ishaq, chief of LeJ, his two sons Usman and Haq Nawaz, and 11 others were killed in an alleged exchange of fire with police in Shahwala area of Muzaffargarh District in Punjab. At least six Policemen were injured in the encounter.
AUGUST
Aug 16:
Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada was assassinated in a suicide attack at his political office in Shadikhan, Attock. Nineteen other people present at scene were also killed and more than 20 sustained injuries in the attack.
The militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility for the attack, in retaliation for the killing of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq during Khanzada’s tenure.
Aug 19:
Abdul Rashid Godil, a senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and member of the National Assembly, was critically injured and his driver Abdul Mateen was killed when unknown suspects riding on two motorcycles opened fire on his car in Karachi’s Bahadurabad area.
SEPTEMBER
Sep 13:
At least 10 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a remote-controlled bomb explosion near Vehari Chowk in Multan. Police said it appeared that the motorbike had been rigged with explosives.
The powerful blast destroyed the rickshaw and other vehicles parked nearby.
No group claimed responsibility of the incident and motive behind the attack could not be ascertained.
Sep 18:
Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) militants attacked an air force base in Badaber area of Peshawar, killing at least 29 people, most of them soldiers. The military said up to 14 insurgents entered the residential compound at the base near Peshawar.
Some of the militants were able to attack a mosque within the camp compound and killed 16 air force personnel as they were about to offer Fajr prayers. Separately an army captain and two soldiers were killed in fighting with the insurgents.
All 14 attackers were killed during clearance operation.
In a press conference after the operation, Pak Army’s spokesperson said the attackers belonged to a splinter group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and came from Afghanistan.
OCTOBER
Oct 5:
A pro-government tribal elder was killed when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle in the town of Bakakhel 150 kilometers south of Peshawar.
Malik Sayed Ali Wazir, who headed an anti-Taliban militia in the town, died on the way to hospital.
Oct 14:
At least seven people including a district council and two union council candidates were killed and several others injured in a suicide blast at camp office of MNA Amjad Farooq Khosa in Taunsa Sharif Tehsil of Dera Ghazi Khan district.
Oct 20:
A bomb explosion on a bus in Balochistan’s Quetta city killed at least 11 people and wounded more than 20.
According to investigation report, the remote-controlled device was planted on the roof of the vehicle.
The passenger bus was carrying workers from the centre of Quetta to their homes in the suburbs at the end of the working day.
No group claimed responsibility of the incident.
Oct 23:
At least 24 people were killed in a suspected suicide attack in the city of Jacobabad. The blast took place outside the residence of a local Shia leader ahead of a Muharram procession.
Banned group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility the attack.
NOVEMBER
Nov 3:
A journalist was shot dead by Tehreek-e-Taliban terrorists in the troubled northwest Tuesday.
Zaman Mehsud, 40, was killed while riding his motorcycle to the remote Tank district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Nov 20:
Unknown suspects gunned down at least three paramilitary soldiers and injured a fourth as they guarded a mosque in Karachi.
The killers, on three motorcycles, opened fire on the paramilitary Rangers outside the Abu Hurairah mosque in Ittehad Town, a western suburb of the southern city.
Officials suggested the attackers intended to target the mosque during Friday prayers.
Nov 22:
Unidentified gunmen killed a TV journalist. Attackers riding a motorcycle fired on 42-year-old Hafeez Ur Rehman near his home on the outskirts of Kohat district.
Rehman, who had been working as a journalist for 12 years, was employed by the Neo TV network. He was also publisher of his own daily, ‘Asia’, until it folded earlier this year.
DECEMBER
Dec 1:
Masked gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead two military policemen in volatile port city of Karachi, where authorities have for two years been staging a crackdown on Taliban militants and criminal gangs.
The victims’ jeep was stuck in traffic on the city’s main M.A. Jinnah Road when they came under attack from behind.
Attackers managed to escape from the scene.
Dec 13:
A remote-controlled bomb blast in a market killed 25 and wounded 45 others in Kurram tribal region near the Afghan border.
The bomb exploded as the market in the town of Parachinar was crowded with shoppers buying warm clothes for winter.
Dec 21:
Two separate bomb attacks killed three people and wounded two others, including a senior Pakistani army officer, in a restive tribal region near the Afghan border.
The incidents took place in the Mohmand tribal area, one of the seven such semi-autonomous districts where the military has been battling Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked militants for over a decade.
"An improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the roadside in Baizai area went off as a vehicle passed by it killing three people: a tribal policeman, a foreman and a tribesman," senior local administration official Waqar Khan told AFP.
Another IED planted on a roadside in the same district meanwhile struck a military vehicle wounding a Lieutenant Colonel and a soldier, Khan said.
Dec 29:
A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 26 people and wounded more than 50 after crashing into the main gate of a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office in the town of Mardan.
Separately in Baluchistan in the southwest, a soldier was martyred and two others were injured when a water tanker belonging to paramilitary forces hit a landmine in Mastung district.
A third soldier was martyred and a fourth injured when their vehicle struck an IED in the town of Turbat.
