Chehlum blasts: Cases registered against unidentified persons

Police suspect that members of TTP were involved in the series of bombings.

KARACHI: Investigators believe that the banned outfit, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was behind the series of bombings which took place on Tuesday, minutes before the procession for Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (RA) chehlum in Karachi.

A case, FIR No. 435/13, under Sections 302, 324, 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and 4/5 of the explosive act was registered against unidentified persons at the Mominabad police station on behalf of the injured police’s sub-inspector Muhammad Shafi.



The complainant, in his recorded statement, said that he was trying to cordon off the area by asking the crowd to keep away from the site of the first blast at the Azakhana-e-Kausar Imambargah when a second powerful explosion took place. Four people were killed while more than two dozens were injured. “Bystanders and passers-by were mostly affected,” said West and Central police chief DIG Javed Odho while talking to The Express Tribune. “They gathered at the site to tend to the victims of the first blast and later became victims themselves. People should avoid gathering at the site of such incidents.”

Investigators were also looking into the involvement of an alleged terrorist of the TTP, Zohaib, who was allegedly killed during an exchange of fire with the Rangers in Manghopir on Tuesday evening. “Of course the TTP could have been behind the yesterday’s bombings,” said DIG Javed Odho. “But we cannot share more details as the investigations are at the preliminary level.” Meanwhile, the cases of the Qasba Colony’s cracker attack and Numaish Chowrangi bombing were also registered against unidentified persons on behalf of the state.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2013.