Rangers official injured in cracker attack

KARACHI: Unidentified assailants threw a cracker bomb at a Rangers van in Gulistan-e-Johar on Wednesday evening, leaving a Rangers official injured and the vehicle damaged.

According to Gulistan-e-Johar SHO Farman Ali, Rangers personnel were checking their vehicle's tyres at a puncture shop when the cracker was thrown at the vehicle by two men on a motorcycle. The van's windscreen was shattered while Muhammad Hussain was injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to sources, the bomb disposal squad's initial report said the cracker was homemade and similar to devices used against law enforcers in the past.

A case was registered with the Counter Terrorism Department on Thursday, under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Explosives Act and charges of attempted murder and damage to government property. An investigation has been launched.

Separately, a passerby, identified as Ikram, 30, was injured in a blast near a Rangers checkpost in Shah Latif Town. He was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment. Meanwhile, Shah Latif Town SHO Obaidullah said the incident was not linked to the Rangers checkpost. Further investigation is underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2020.