Search continues for assailants

Police nab three suspects from a roadside hotel situated near the place of the attack, two bikes recovered.

ISLAMABAD: Police arrested three suspects on Monday during a search operation following the attack on Nato’s convoy and launched an inquiry against the command supply contractor.

Launching the investigation immediately after the incident on Sunday night, police nabbed three suspects from a roadside hotel situated near the place of the attack.

Officials claimed that the individuals had knowledge about the occurrence. “We are interrogating them for relevant information and they are still in our custody,” said an official.

An official from Islamabad Capital Territory Administration said that police was also going to take action against Nato command supply contractor, Taaj Afridi, who is currently out of the country. “The individual is being further studied. The police plans to take action against him for possible affiliation with the incident,” he said.

Moreover, the police also recovered two abandoned motorbikes from the nearby jungle in the area of Sihala while conducting a search operation on Monday. “There are some important leads which we have gathered with the help of these motorbikes. They could prove fruitful in finding the people behind this incident,” he added.

Minister for Interior Rehman Malik had said earlier that security of Nato tankers was not the responsibility of Islamabad Police, a statement which was reaffirmed by SP Rural Malik Omar Hayat.

“We asked the truck drivers to move their vehicles from the refinery citing a possible security threat. They shifted to Gujjar Khan-an area which falls under the jurisdiction of Punjab Police,” he said.

After the Punjab Police refused to accommodate the convoy for the same reasons, the trucks shifted back to Islamabad. Police officials said that better plans should be put in place to provide safer movements for these supplies, which would help maintain peace in the area.

However, an ICT official expressed his discontent with the arrangement made by the administration to prevent such incidents. “Irrespective of the capital being on high-alert, the government did not have any information about such an activity.”

“A similar incident occurred three months ago. It was the responsibility of the SHO of that area to be aware of the situation,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, a convoy of around 35 oil tankers carrying supplies for Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan was attacked and three people killed as a result.

The incident took place at a filling station near Defense Housing Authority Phase-II and Jadah Town, when seven gunmen opened fire at the tankers which had stopped for refueling. “Four tankers were completely destroyed, while nine were partially damaged. Rescue services managed to put out the fire before further devastation could take place,” SP Rural Malik Omar Hayat.

He added that seven people were injured and shifted to the hospital. “Two have been discharged, while another four will hopefully be healthy by tomorrow. One injured is in critical condition,” Hayat said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.