A strong message: Leaders of ANP, PkSF unhurt in separate attacks

We are being targeted almost daily but not given protection, they lament.

KARACHI:

Armed motorcyclists attacked the house of the Pakhtun Student Federation’s (PkSF) president in Sher Shah on Saturday. Meanwhile, another bomb was lobbed at the residence of a  leader of the Awami National Party, but luckily, it failed to explode.

At least two armed men riding a motorcycle lobbed a tennis ball bomb at the residence of the PkSF president, Raza Jadoon. “My father and some friends were sitting outside our house when the attack occurred,” said Jadoon, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Fortunately, all of us remained unhurt in the attack.” Jadoon revealed that he had been receiving threats from militants. “The threatening calls originate from Afghanistan,” he explained. “They asked me to leave the party but I have refused to do so.” The police have been provided with the cell phone numbers from which the calls were received while Jadoon will register an FIR after deliberating the issue with his family. SHO Ahmed Butt was of the opinion that the same group was behind the series of attacks on ANP’s workers in the city.

In a similar incident, the residence of another leader of the Awami National Party came under attack in Qasba Colony within the limits of Pirabad police station. The bomb, however, did not explode. According to officials, armed motorcyclists threw a tennis ball bomb at the residence of Raheem Swati. Bomb disposal squad officials successfully managed to defuse the bomb later.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, ANP Sindh chapter chief, Shahi Syed, strongly condemned the attacks. “We are being targeted on a daily basis and yet, the law enforcement agencies have decided not to provide us protection,” he said.

Earlier on February 1, the PkSF president for district East, Shah Kalam Mehsud, was killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Sohrab Goth. Meanwhile on Friday, bomb disposal squad’s experts defused a bomb planted outside the residence of the party’s leader, Hayat Buneri, in Baldia Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2014.