A bomb weighing 2.15 kilogrammes was planted in the middle of the road between the University of Karachi Silver Jubilee and Staff Colony gates. The location could be considered highly sensitive since BA and BSc examinations are in full swing. A large number of students were on campus but did not get hurt.
A motorcyclist identified as Abdul Manaf was injured. He was taken to a private hospital in Gulistan-e-Jauhar where he passed away. Manaf used to live near the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. His brother-in-law told The Express Tribune that the family was grieving and in no position to comment. The crime scene was cordoned off by the police and Rangers. The Bomb Disposal Squad said that the bomb was similar to the one used at Safoora Goth a day earlier.
The investigators are still trying to figure out the name of the group behind the blasts. Sources in the police told The Express Tribune that about one dozen suspects were being questioned at an undisclosed location.
Witnesses claim that they did not see anyone planting the bomb and had just heard a loud explosion. “Honestly, my heart stopped beating. I was so terrified that I could not move and just lay on the road,” said Zahid, a motorcyclist. “When I saw Munaf, I got up to help him. He was in so much pain.”
Zahid was detained by the authorities but was released after questioning.
Criminal Investigation Agency SSP Raja Umar Khattab said that the bomb was similar to the one used in Friday’s blast and was a low intensity improvised explosive device.
Additional IG Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh told The Express Tribune that suspects were detained. However, he did not give any information about their affiliation with a political party or terrorist group. “The specialised police units are looking into the case,” he said. “I do not want to ruin the investigation by giving out details. It should remain under wraps.” On Friday, three Rangers were killed while four others were injured in a roadside blast near Safoora Goth.
District East SP Salam Sheikh told The Express Tribune that nothing could be ascertained as yet. He added that they could not comment on who the terrorists were targeting. “There is no doubt that this bomb blast was similar to the Safoora Goth blast,” he said. “It looks like the same group is behind both attacks.
In response to a question about the Rangers on duty at the campus, he said an investigation was under way to check if the Rangers on duty at the gates were being targeted.
Rangers Brigadier Waseem Ayub refused to comment when contacted. He said that he was busy with the investigation. FIR no. 504/2011 under section 302, 427/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered at Mobina Town Police.
Student reaction
After receiving frantic phone calls about a blast on campus, most students were wondering if their exams would be postponed - again.
Shireen Jafferi, a of third-year Mass Communication student said that her car was parked at gate no. 2 and she rushed to see if it was alright. “Fortunately, the blast occurred at a little distance,” she said. “I was able to get to the car and leave because I thought the gates would be closed.”
According to Hina Mujeeb, a MS Mass Communication student, she was in the middle of an exam when everyone in the room started receiving phone calls. “The teachers did not know what was happening till one of the students got up and explained the situation,” she said.
with additional reporting by Tehmina Qureshi
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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Another example of IED's and still we are clueless. so sad indeed!
Every institution in Pakistan is being targeted and attacked. What went wrong during this administration? Pakistan was never like this just a few years ago!
Maybe this was to show the world how much we deserved to be elected as a permanent member to the UN Scientific Committee? Shows how much we appreciate our universities and educational institutions. I no longer understand what IS important to our people anymore.
In America, they call in fake bomb scares to get out of exams. In Pakistan, they just bomb the university!
Everything is wrong with us. And what is wrong with our security. I was told there is round the clock security outside university and now this planted bomb?
After political activities, terrorists activities have also started in and around Karachi University.
For these reasons, I have advised my children to appear in Bachelors and Master Degree programs as private candidates.
When would these political and terrorists activities in and around will stop from Karachi University which claims to have world ranking?
@Zainab Khan: Looks like it's becoming an accepted part of the Pakistani life. The reactions are progressively sounding similar to an inconvenient act of nature to shrug off like varying earthquake ratings on a scale. "This bombing was only a 1.0, we won't stop tests for anything less than a 3.5"
"BA and BSc exams will be held as per schedule today." Are you serious?
Government now need to find out this group operting in karachi doing same kind of bomb blasts
@Saleem o wise social media guru, there is also the SHARE option, LIKING just looks so wrong! @Tribune how about replacing the like button with recommend. Its a widely used social media feature too!
We are not liking the story. when we click on LIKE so it means that we like the act of the person who given the information to us. Geting information is the basic right of every citizen of a country, so we are liking their act by which they informed us not the story.
@GarbarGotala , Do not fall for literal meanings of 'Like' . Sometimes a story is liked so that others linked on social media can view the story. 'Liking' a story does not necessary mean that anyone is endorsing or appreciating the story content. Just a social media 101 before you get frustrated by likes on every other story.
Why on earth are people liking this story? What is wrong with us?
Is someone proof checking the article before printing?