Saudi diplomat’s murder: All foreign mission staff told to avoid unnecessary trips

Police believe last week’s hand-grenade attack was a warning.

KARACHI:

Following the fatal attack on the Saudi diplomat in DHA, the police have advised all foreign missions and diplomats in the city to avoid unnecessary trips around the city.

“We have also beefed up security by providing them [other consulates] more security personnel,” Foreign Security Cell SP Zahid Afaq told The Express Tribune. More pickets will also be set up, he assured.

Referring to the security situation around the Saudi consulate, he said that 30 more policemen have been deployed. He declined for security reasons to give the number of foreigners present in the city.

The Saudi consulate is located on the corner of Khayaban-e-Shamsheer and Khayaban-e-Hafiz. With a large number of cars coming from the Gizri Flyover, it is difficult for the police to set up too many security barriers. Since it is located away from the declared diplomatic enclave, the security measures around it are not visible unless they are secretive. However, the diplomat, Hasan alKhatani, was gunned down on Khayaban-e-Shahbaz as he was going towards the consulate.

According to a watchman at a nearby house, the culprits, who were wearing helmets and appeared to be young, were following the diplomat’s car for some time. “They first tried to intercept the car. But when the driver sped up, they opened fire,” he recalled. Two of the attackers were on back-up, and later, they all ran into the streets.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Saud Mirza told The Express Tribune that the police are investigating the case from all angles. “Apparently, it seems that the recent hand-grenade attack at the Saudi Consulate and the killing [on Monday] might have been linked with each other and one group is behind both attacks,” he said. “As the investigation is in the preliminary stages, nothing could be said for sure.”

The hand-grenade attack took place last Wednesday. The device damaged the outside wall of the consulate but there were no injuries. “In my opinion, the previous incident, in which the assailants’ hurled grenades, was a warning,” said a senior investigation officer, on the condition of anonymity. “We expect more attacks in the future, most likely on foreigners, but we are making a strategy to counter such terrorists.”

According to unconfirmed reports, all Saudi consulate staffers have been shifted to private hotels but officials declined to comment on this. Mirza also said that he has no such information.

Nevertheless, he assured that the authorities have taken strict measures to protect Saudi diplomats and other staff members, and they have met them to discuss their security. Declining to give any details, Mirza said, “I cannot share the exact nature of the security measures we have taken”. “They should be kept secret.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.