There was a huge explosion at 8pm that resounded around the federal capital of Islamabad. Windows shook in houses and buildings as far away as sector F11 (10km away!). We were at an Aftari dinner at a friends house in E9 and when the blast occurred there was no mistaking it for what it was. The windows rattled and the building trembled and we all looked at each other in silence, hoping that someone would come out with an explanation that it was anything other than the obvious, but no one spoke for a few minutes. We turned on the news and were greeted with the news that the Marriot Hotel in sector F6 of Islamabad had been attacked. We often went there for it was the only place in Islamabad where you could get Sushi !
It has been almost three hours since the blast and reports are coming in thick and fast. Many injured and many more dead, the entire building is ablaze and there is a HUGE crater where the valet parking pay used to be in front of the entrance.
Hotel staff are reporting on TV news channels that up until yesterday there were a large number of foreigners and diplomats staying at the hotel and dining there but today almost all foreigners had checked out and only 3 tables had been booked by foreigners. This BEGS an explanation! Did the authorities have prior notice of this attack? If so why weren't additional steps taken to counter the threat If there was no prior warning then someone needs to explain !
My opinion of the matter is that the enemies of Pakistan have decided that now is the time to act since the army is no longer in power and a civilian government is much easier to handle.
Regime change here has already been achieved with Asif Ali Zardari having been elected as president so why on earth would the extremists, who up until now were targeting army personnel want to take out a hotel in Islamabad? The whole thing stinks to high heaven - no doubt there will be some sort of "reasonable" explanation given as to why average citizens enjoying dinner out with friends and families suddenly became the top priority target for militants but no matter what is said the truth will come out eventually...hopefully before it is too late.
Please pray for the victims and for the future of Pakistan so that it can become a useful member of the international community instead of a breeding ground for conspiracists, extremists, dictators in the waiting and other loonies !
It has been almost three hours since the blast and reports are coming in thick and fast. Many injured and many more dead, the entire building is ablaze and there is a HUGE crater where the valet parking pay used to be in front of the entrance.
Hotel staff are reporting on TV news channels that up until yesterday there were a large number of foreigners and diplomats staying at the hotel and dining there but today almost all foreigners had checked out and only 3 tables had been booked by foreigners. This BEGS an explanation! Did the authorities have prior notice of this attack? If so why weren't additional steps taken to counter the threat If there was no prior warning then someone needs to explain !
My opinion of the matter is that the enemies of Pakistan have decided that now is the time to act since the army is no longer in power and a civilian government is much easier to handle.
Regime change here has already been achieved with Asif Ali Zardari having been elected as president so why on earth would the extremists, who up until now were targeting army personnel want to take out a hotel in Islamabad? The whole thing stinks to high heaven - no doubt there will be some sort of "reasonable" explanation given as to why average citizens enjoying dinner out with friends and families suddenly became the top priority target for militants but no matter what is said the truth will come out eventually...hopefully before it is too late.
Please pray for the victims and for the future of Pakistan so that it can become a useful member of the international community instead of a breeding ground for conspiracists, extremists, dictators in the waiting and other loonies !
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