September 05, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 22, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Sept 4: The otherwise bustling areas of R.A. Bazaar and Qasim Market on Tuesday presented a somewhat deserted look all day long after two suicide blasts ripped through the garrison neighbourhoods early morning, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 66 others.

Terrified residents of the cantonment localities remained confined to their homes, while public offices including that of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) witnessed thin attendance.

As the two gory events occurred in commercial centres, the death and destruction was seen by a large number of people.

After hearing the loud bang, many dwellers came out of their houses and rushed to the bombing scenes in search of their loved ones who proceeded to the markets to shop for grocery or were going to their offices and educational institutions.

Many schoolchildren, who were on their way to schools when the bombing took place, were called back by their parents.

Farid Razzaq, 30, who lives close to Qasim Market, said he heard an explosion and when he came out of his room, he spotted a piece of flesh lying on the bonnet of his car.

“I stood there and kept watching the flesh until a man identifying himself as an ISI staffer entered my home. Short of breath, he asked me to inform the Rescue 15 about a suicide attack in Qasim Market,” Mr Razzaq said.

The official asked for a glass of water and said: “Nobody is safe now as bombers have targeted garrison areas and the officials of Defence Ministry.”

“Body parts were strewn across the site and I returned home after witnessing the sad and horrific scenes,” Mr Razzaq said.

The residents of the congested R.A. Bazaar area also remained gripped by fear throughout the day, while the smaller commercial centres wore a deserted look with no routine activities taking place until the evening.

Since the blasts occurred in the morning, majority of the RCB employees remained absent from duty as they feared that more suicide attacks might take place in the city.

There were no sanitary workers in the residential localities of the cantonment, whereas majority of the RCB directors and deputy directors did not attend their offices.

Shopping centres along Bank Road in Saddar remained closed, as law enforcement agencies patrolled the surrounding areas, including the State Bank of Pakistan (Rawalpindi branch) and Flashman Hotel.

The two violent events took place a day after the city police and district administration warned the traders of such incidents and asked them to individually hire private security guards.