Deadly hotel bombing underscores violence in Pakistan; FSRN speaks to displaced minorities

An explosion at a five star hotel in Pakistan has injured over 50 people and killed at least 11 according local reporters.  The blast occurred at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan´s troubled Northwest province. The hotel was reportedly the future home of the region´s US consulate.  Pakistan's army is fighting Taliban militants in the Northwest Province, but the civilian population is paying a great price.  Thousands of Pakistani Sikhs and Hindus are among the estimated 3 million people displaced by the government’s campaign to rid northwestern districts of the Taliban. Many of these minorities have been living with harassment, threats of death and extortion at the hands of the Islamic insurgents. Now they say the government has abandoned them, offering little or no aid since they fled the fighting.  Many have taken refuge at one the Sikh religions holiest sites, the Gurdwara Punja Sahib.  Catherine Komp reads for our reporter Gabe Matthews.