Attack at Malir Halt: Same group suspected from last year’s attacks
An FIR, No. 29/11, under Sections 302, 324 of the explosives act and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), has been registered against unidentified suspects at the Saudabad police station on behalf of injured ASI Manzoor Bhutto.
The statement submitted by the injured police officer said, “I along with my colleagues was on routine patrol for security on the occasion of the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) when we found a suspicious motorcycle and a young suspected man with the motorcycle. We immediately moved our police mobile closer to the motorbike, when the suspect saw us and started running. We did not have any idea about the explosives and therefore we thought it better to first check the motorcycle because a huge box was placed on [it]. While [we were] checking the box, suddenly, it exploded with a loud bang and I do not know what happened after the explosion”.
Saudabad SHO Ejaz Qaimkhani told The Express Tribune that ASI Bhutto is admitted at PNS Shifa. He had sustained serious injuries in the blast. “We cannot question him more as his condition is critical,” he added.
Qaimkhani also said that Bhutto had appeared confident that he could identify the man who parked the motorcycle there. “The clean-shaven suspect was around 25 years old and wore a white shalwar kameez,” the ASI had revealed. Investigators would try to make a sketch of the suspect with Bhutto’s help.
“It still remains unclear if it was a remote-controlled bomb or not but it seems that the suspect detonated the bomb with the help of a remote as he tried to escape,” the SHO added.
BDS reports
Meanwhile, nearly 24 hours later, the bomb disposal squad (BDS) had been unable to submit a report on the explosion and neither have any samples been sent to Islamabad. “I cannot say anything yet since we are still investigating,” said BDS expert SI Nasab. “Apparently the bomb weighed around four kilogrammes, was locally made and contained nut and bolts.”
He confirmed that the bomb was planted on a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, Crime Investigation Department (CID) Investigations SP Mazhar Mashwani said that there was no major breakthrough in the case. He did say that it seemed that the group that had targeted Shias last year on Ashura and the Chehlum was behind this attack as well. “In all previous attacks, they used planted devices to attack the processions and mourners and this time too they had a similar modus operandi,” the officer revealed. “This time, apparently, they used a sparking device to explode the explosive material.” The officer said that they were collecting more evidence and were also questioning the militants who have been arrested earlier along with other suspects.
Funeral prayers
The funeral prayers of the policemen who lost their lives in the attack were offered at Garden Police Headquarters on Wednesday afternoon. Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak, Capital City Police Officer, Karachi Fayyaz Leghari and other senior police and Rangers personnel also attended the funerals.
The IGP also met the families of Constable Kamran Qureshi, Constable Imran and Constable Mushtaq.
Later, talking to the media, the IGP said that the families would be given Rs2 million each in compensation while the injured ASI Manzoor would be promoted to the next grade. The home department has also announced Rs0.1 million each for the deceased policemen.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of Hafiz Kashif, a passerby who also died in Malir blast, was held in Shah Latif Town. Kashif was an employee of a private airline and is survived by four children. Police officials said that he was on a motorcycle when the explosion happened.
Kamran Qureshi and Mushtaq were trained at the Razzakabad Training Centre and were getting special elite force training. Qureshi is survived by two children while Mushtaq was unmarried. The third policeman, Imran, was deployed at the Security Zone.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ