Peshawar commissioner in critical condition after mysterious explosion in flat

Says he was running away from chasers when he wound up in the apartment.

ISLAMABAD:

Peshawar Commissioner Sahibzada Muhammad Anis, who was seriously injured from a gas explosion inside an apartment in Sector F-10 Islamabad, said in his statement to police that he was being chased when he hid in the flat, Express News reported.

The BS-20 officer suffered 99% burn injuries and is currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the PIMS hospital, told police that the explosion occurred right after he stepped into the flat. He added that he had lost consciousness after the explosion.

A 29-year-old woman, Asghar Nisa, was also in the apartment and sustained 45 per cent burn injuries.

The explosion occurred in Apt 17, located in the basement of the Park Towers studio apartments, which is located next to the main apartment complex.

Conflicting reports

Police sources had attributed the explosion to a gas leak in the apartment, but mystery remains around the incident after conflicting reports surfaced regarding Anis's proximity to the explosion.

The commissioner's statement to police came after some sources had said the commissioner was staying at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House along with his family and was in town to see-off his son, who left for the UK on Friday.

Others, however, said his family was in K-P.

Meanwhile, SSP Operations Muhammad Rizwan said the commissioner was at the apartment to visit a friend.

Critical condition

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences spokesperson Dr Ayesha Eshani said Anis was in a critical condition as the burn injuries suffered were almost 100 per cent.

The door of the apartment was completely destroyed in the explosion but items such as the TV in the small living room and the bed in the bedroom appeared undamaged. However, glass shards littered the narrow corridor next to the apartment from shattered windows. A security guard of the complex said the explosion had affected at least 10 adjacent apartments.

Khurram, an eye witness, was one of the first people to reach the explosion site. He said he was visiting a friend who lived across the hall from Apartment-17.

Khurram, who wished to be identified by his first name only, said the window of Apt 15 broke during the explosion and he rushed outside to see what had happened.

“There was heavy smoke in front of the apartment and then a man emerged from the smoke,” he said. “He was wearing a shalwar and vest and his arms had fresh burns, which looked very serious.”

Khurram said the man identified himself as a government officer and asked for help before almost collapsing to the floor. Khurram said he steadied the man and called the guards for help. Nisa emerged from the room moments later with injuries on her face and neck.

According to sources, the commissioner was staying at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House along with his family and was in town to see-off his son, who left for the UK on Friday.

“There was no fire at the site, but some windows were broken and pieces of glass were spread everywhere,” he added.

Sadaat, whose mother lives in an apartment in the main towers, said the building management should install effective fire alarms so that residents of the towers and studio apartments are alerted if there is an explosion of this kind.

There were no fire extinguishers or fire exits in the basement.