Hand grenade attack in Karachi's Bolton market injures three

Assailants attack shop owners for refusing to pay extortion; injured shifted to Civil Hospital


Faraz Khan April 18, 2015
STOCK IMAGE

KARACHI: Three people were injured after armed motorcyclists hurled a hand grenade at a shop in Bolton Market in Karachi.

The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital following the attack.

According to reports, motorcyclists stormed into the market and lobbed a hand grenade at a shop called Azam Cloth Market when they refused to pay extortion money.

Related: Benefit of doubt: Two men acquitted in extortion case

Following the incident, traders and shopkeepers shut their businesses down and staged a protest against the attack.

On Thursday, the Sindh High Court acquitted two men accused of extortion and possessing illegal arms due to the prosecution’s failure to prove the charges.

A two-judge bench, comprising justices Naimatullah Phulpoto and Nazar Akbar, set aside the sentences awarded to the appellants, Shuhab Zaman and Muhammad Sabir, by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) on September 7, 2013.

Related: Extortion: Rs1,500, a cup of tea will cost this man seven years in jail

They were given 10-year imprisonment after they were found guilty of demanding Rs5 million in extortion from the manager of a cellular company’s franchise in Civil Lines in March 2012.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ