Karachi in the target sights: NACTA warns of pushcart bombings

Militants likely to use pushcarts used for selling fruits and vegetables on streets to hit highly sensitive targets.

KARACHI: The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has warned the Sindh home department to keep its eyes peeled for pushcart bombers who may be looking to target sensitive installations. The militants are likely to use pushcarts used for selling fruits and vegetables on the streets to hit highly sensitive targets, Nacta warned in its letter to Sindh Home Secretary Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi. The targets, which TTP is zeroing in on, can trigger sectarian and ethnic strife in the city, it said. The counter terrorism body also said that the TTP was planning a bomb blast at the MQM’s Nine-Zero headquarters and an attack on ANP Senator Shahi Syed. The letter also warns of possible attacks on oil terminals in Keamari, air force installations in Mauripur and Korangi Creek and attacks on patrol vehicles of Rangers. In particular, the letter asked the authorities to watch out for pushcarts which the terrorists could use to carry and detonate bombs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2014.