Bomb on wheels: Police find a car full of weapons

The vehicle, which belonged to an FBR official, had been snatched from MT Khan Road.

KARACHI: The police conducted an operation on Monday in Sultanabad, Manghopir, during which they seized a car bearing a government number plate along with a huge cache of weapons. They also arrested half a dozen suspects.

Law enforcers believe that terrorists were using the car - a white Suzuki Swift - to transport weapons, including explosives, across the city. The police claim to have found at least six hand grenades and bombs shaped like tennis balls, three Kalashnikovs and hundreds of rounds of ammunition inside the car.

About 400 law enforcers, including women police, participated in the operation. The locality was cordoned off and nobody was allowed to enter or leave it during the operation. Police officials said that the operation was launched as they had received information that some suspects were hiding in the area. During the door-to-door search operation, law enforcers managed to capture and detain half a dozen suspects and took them to an undisclosed location for questioning.



Inspector Shafiq Tanoli, who was part of the operation, told The Express Tribune that the apprehended men may belong to a gang linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

He said that the car belonged to an FBR official, Zahid Ismail, and had been snatched from MT Khan Road on April 19. An FIR for the stolen car had been registered at the Docks police station. “They might have used the number plate as the police usually do not stop vehicles with such plates. This is why they could transfer explosives across the city with ease.” He said that law enforcers have also received some important clues from the detained suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.