Possible extortion case: MPA’s hujra blown up in Karak

The incident marks the third attack on Malik Qasim.

KARAK: The hujra of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) MPA and Adviser to Chief Minister on Prisons, Malik Qasim, was blown up by unidentified militants in Karak on Tuesday morning.

Yousaf Khan, an official of Takhte Nusrati police, told The Express Tribune the incident occurred at around 6:40am. He explained militants had planted a bomb in the hujra of Malik Qasim, which went off with a loud bang. Heavy contingents of police rushed to the site and surrounded the hujra. The official said the bomb was planted next to the water supply pipe for the kitchen – which was destroyed. The remaining structure, however, remained intact.



The official added that a search operation was launched in the area in which 14 suspects, including Afghan nationals, were arrested and put behind bars for further investigation.

Malik Qasim was previously targeted during the general elections in May, when unidentified attackers opened fire at his vehicle during the election campaign in Takhte Nusrati. Qasim was also targeted in December, when the boundary wall of his house was blown up.

The police official suspected the incident was related to extortion. He said unidentified extortionists were trying to take money from Qasim, and targeted him due to his refusal to comply. He added further investigations were under way. However, Malik Qasim has stated that he has no enemies.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2014.