Chehlum blast: Official sacked, another demoted

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

Two police officials whom an inquiry committee – formed to fix responsibility for the January 15 bomb blast – found to be negligent were awarded punishments on Tuesday. An inspector was fired and another demoted, DPO Sohail Zaffar Chattha told The Express Tribune.

At least 17 people had died and dozens were injured in the blast that took place during the Chehlum procession of the martyrs of Karbala. The bomb had been placed in a box fixed to an electricity pole.

The committee concluded that the officials concerned had been negligent and had failed to perform their duties.

Inspector Rehman Qamar, who had been assigned to a search of the procession’s route, was fired for clearing the route without a thorough search and Security Branch Inchrage Mohammad Ibrahim was demoted for not spotting the security breach.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2012.