ISLAMABAD, 1 May 2007 — Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, who survived a suicide attack on Saturday, said that the attack was orchestrated by Al-Qaeda. “No doubt, I was the target. But the ‘human shield’ formed by my bodyguards and party workers saved me,” he said. A crowd of supporters and police guards surrounding him had borne the brunt of the blast that killed 28 of them.

“The suicide bomber blew himself up just 4 to 5 feet away from me. The shock was such that everyone fell down and when I got up later there was carnage in front of me. There were mutilated bodies and I couldn’t really see any survivors at that stage. That is why I say its has been a miracle escape,” Sherpao said.

Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Sherpao spoke of Al-Qaeda’s changing tactics and about the findings of an initial probe. “We have found two heads. One of the bombers has been identified as an Afghan Tajik in his 30s and the second head is that of a youngster. We are carrying out forensic and DNA tests to determine his identity,” he said. Severed heads found at suicide attacks generally belong to bombers whose heads are left intact, while their bodies are blown into smithereens.

Sherpao said he joined politics after his elder brother Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao was killed in a bomb blast in 1974. “I was serving in the Pakistan Army as a major but my brother’s death sucked me into politics,” he said, adding that since joining politics in 1975 he has been facing threats. “We received intelligence on Feb. 9 about a possible attempt on my life, after which necessary measures were taken,” he said, adding that he would not rule out the possibility of fugitive militant tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud’s involvement in the suicide attack.

Sherpao said that during previous attacks, suicide bombers used jackets, which were designed to accommodate many hand grenades. “In this attack the bomber used a light jacket that could carry only high intensity explosives measuring between 6 and 8 kg. The explosives were of Russian origin,” he said, adding that investigators found the sleeve of a jacket and a detonator that has led them to believe there were either two bombers, or just one with a facilitator.

Sherpao said the attempt on his life would not deter him or the government from fighting terrorism. “Our resolve to combat terrorism has become stronger. We are more determined to fight terrorists, track them down and flush them out from Pakistan’s soil now than before,” he said.

The minister said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have also previously escaped assassination attempts. “We have carried out operations against militants who came to Pakistan after 9/11. When you marginalize and pressurize these elements they naturally retaliate. These are some of the backlashes of the war on terror,” he said, adding, “When I say it was an Al-Qaeda-sponsored attack I do not mean there were some Arabs involved. We have confirmed reports that Al-Qaeda cells are being run by Afghans, Tajiks, Uzbeks and even some Pakistanis.”

Sherpao, who suffered a deep injury to one of his ears, said he felt very sorry for those killed. He said the federal government has announced compensation of Rs.100,000 to the kin of those killed and Rs.50,000 for each person injured. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has also announced a similar amount for the victims.

The federal government, he said, has taken stringent measures to combat terrorists after the blast. Sherpao said he received messages from President Hamid Karzai, the Indian home minister and leaders from Turkey and some NATO countries.

Sherpao said he would be proceeding to Kabul to attend the Pak-Afghan peace jirga on May 3. He said two jirgas have taken place in Pakistan while the third one will take place in Kabul. He also added that Sayed Ahmad Gailani would head the Afghan team.