'Mystery blast': Police clue less over blast in DHA

Police sources confirmed that a blast had taken place but could not determine the nature of the explosion.

KARACHI: A loud blast was heard in parts of Defence, Karachi on Wednesday evening, Express News reported.

As many sought more information about what had happened, SP Clifton Sarfraz Nawaz initially told Express News that the blast was only a rumour.

"People shouldn't take heed of the rumours about a blast in Defence. They are false and being spread just to create panic," he said.

People on social media, however, claimed that the blast was loud enough to rattle windows.

So have at least 2 reports of shattered windows in DHA Phase 5/6 #Karachi due to blast but Police say there was NO explosion

— norbalm ™ (@norbalm) June 26, 2013

@norbalm Heard the #explosion, felt it too - phase 6 #Karachi. Hear sirens - neighborhoods out on the street #Mediablackout

— Mariam B. (@mariambil) June 26, 2013

Was loud enough to rattle the windows, echoed too; sounded close as I was sitting right next to a window but not sure exactly

— Mariam B. (@mariambil) June 26, 2013

Very near DHA College for men and to me it sounded like it came from Hafiz but Guard says Phase 8.

— Mariam B. (@mariambil) June 26, 2013

Mariam claimed that the blast was strong enough to rattle her windows. She added that she heard it at her home, located near the DHA mens college and it seemed like the blast took place near Khayaban-e-Hafiz.

Later police and bomb disposal squad converged on the suspected blast site on Khayaban-e-Ghazi. There shattered windows provided proof to the fact an explosion had occurred.

However, scouring the vicinity for clues yielded no answers. A police official told the media that while an explosion had taken place they were unsure what the nature of the this explosion was, whether it was  the result of explosives or a gas build up. However, he vowed to investigate the matter further and get to the bottom of the mysterious explosion.