Two unidentified men on a motorcycle reportedly threw the hand grenade in front of the office’s main gate and escaped. While the attack left the walls of the office damaged, there was no loss of life reported.
According to Bashir Baloch, who is a PPP official and looks after the office, the attack caused minimum damage because the main gate is permanently closed and visitors come through an alternate gate.
However, the office is often visited by the party’s MNA Abdul Qadir Patel, who receives applications and complaints from party workers there.
“The attackers may have been targeting our top officials as Patel sahab and others visit the office,” Baloch said. He demanded that the authorities curb target killings and provide security to citizens.
Soon after the attack, the Mauripur police and the bomb disposal squad arrived on the spot to collect evidence.
Investigation Officer Abdul Karim Chauhan said that the attack was carried out by unidentified men on a motorcycle.
We have collected the evidence but cannot say anything at the moment about the nature of the explosives used in the attack, he said.
The attack took place at the time of Juma prayers, Chauhan said, adding that the police are also questioning some eyewitnesses.
“It was obviously a hand-grenade,” Baloch insisted while the officials of the Bomb Disposal Squad said that evidence showed that no hand grenades were used.
“Explosives of low intensity were used in the attack,” ASI Abdul Rauf said.
According to Rauf, the attackers wanted to harass the people.
Earlier, two close aides of Abdul Qadir Patel were also targeted. One of the victims, Edhi Ameen, was personal assistant to him.
An FIR of the attack is yet to be registered.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah condemned the hand grenade attack at the PPP office at Mowach Goth on Friday, reported APP news agency. He directed CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed to immediately investigate into the attack and arrest the culprits.
He also called upon the law enforcement agencies to keep a strict vigil on anti-state elements and utilise all resources for their elimination. Chief Minister’s Adviser Rashid Rabbani and Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi also condemned the attack and described it as a cowardly act.
Special police unit to be formed for doctors
A special police unit will be formed to protect doctors in the city, it was decided at a meeting at the Sindh Governor House on Friday, which was attended by health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, information technology minister Raza Haroon and representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).
The unit will be headed by SP Khurram Waris and will provide security solely to doctors. It will remain in contact with the PMA officials, it was decided at the meeting.
The meeting was called after doctors threatened to boycott from their duties at public and private hospitals in fear of being persecuted.
At least five doctors have been killed within the last month, CCPO Waseem Ahmed informed the government officials, while the PMA representatives criticised the city’s law and order situation.
At this, Mirza assured them that they will be provided with special security. However, though the unit has been set up, the structure and composition has yet to be decided by the security officials, it was revealed
PMA secretary Dr Amir Raza told The Express Tribune that though they were still unsatisfied, the setting up of a special unit will help doctors feel more secure as they go about their jobs.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2010.
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