Security alert: Panic in University Town as rocket lands near American Club

Hits NGO building nearby, injures security guard.

PESHAWAR:

University Town was gripped by panic late on Sunday when a rocket fired from an unknown direction hit a building near the American Club.

One man was injured when the rocket landed on Chinar Road with a loud explosion. The injured was rushed to the Khyber Teaching Hospital.

“The rocket landed inside the International Medical Corps building and its security guard Nek Muhammad was injured,” a University Town police official said.

An official of the bomb disposal squad (BDS) told the Express Tribune that the target of the rockets was undoubtedly the American Club.

In another attack, a rocket landed in an empty plot in Pawaka village, which falls in the jurisdiction of the Pishtakhara police station.

“These are not guided weapons so they lack accuracy. One of them landed a mile away from its target in Pawaka village, while the other one missed its target by a good 150 meters and hit another  nearby building,” the BDS official added.

The incident occurred a day before President Asif Ali Zardari was due in Peshawar to address the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Meanwhile on Saturday, four policemen were injured when Badhaber police was attacked by assailants around midnight near Kaga Wala Village on the outskirts of the city.

A police mobile was on a routine patrol of PAF road when attackers, equipped with automatic AK-47 rifles, fired at the vehicle. The assailants escaped before police had the chance to retaliate.

Walled city sealed

For increased security measures, routes to the old city have been blocked for traffic, while more than 10,000 policemen have been deployed in Peshawar for Muharram.

A police official, requesting anonymity, said: “We have blocked seven entrances to the inner city by constructing walls.” He further said that the entrance to the Qisa Khwani Bazaar has been closed, but traders have been allowed to open their shops until Muharram 5.

He added that Hangu, DI Khan, Peshawar, Kohat, Tank, Bannu and Manshera have been declared as sensitive areas this Muharram.

All security arrangements were approved at a meeting held at the Commissioner House on Sunday.

According to a press release issued by the information department, Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir Khan, Home Secretary Mohammad Azam Khan, Commissioner Tariq Jamil, IGP Akbar Khan Hoti, CCPO Imtiaz Altaf, DCO Khursheed Marwat and Khyber Agency Political Agent Mutahir Zeb were present at the meeting.

The chief secretary asked the local administration to be in close contact with the public so that their input is included in all decisions. In Peshawar, helicopter surveillance will be conducted on Muharram 9 and 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2012.