Two dead, 7 injured in bomb attack targetting SSP Farooq Awan in Karachi

SSP Farooq Awan sustains minor injuries

KARACHI: Two people were killed and seven others, including two women and two police personnel, were injured when a bomb targeting senior anti-terror police officer SSP Farooq Awan went off in Defence area of Karachi on Thursday evening.

The bomb attack targeted senior anti-terror police officer SSP Farooq Awan’s white bomb-proof Prado on Khayaban-e-Momin near the Gizri graveyard roundabout in phase IV.

The blast was so powerful that it blew out the windows of nearby houses and caused the doors and windows of buildings in a half-kilometer radius to shake. It was heard far off areas of the city including Clifton and PECHS.

Police mobile, one motorcycle and his car were destroyed in the attack.

Following the attack, the dead and injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital. Awan, however, was initially shifted to a private hospital in Clifton where it is reported he walked in and out on his own. He was later shifted to the Agha Khan Hospital.

Additional IG Police Ghulam Qadir Thebo told The Express Tribune that Awan sustained minor injuries. However, he added, an unidentified man is in critical condition at Jinnah Hospital.

Talking to media IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali said CCTV footage shows that around 9pm some one parked a car near the site of the blast and walked away.

The blast took place at 9:04pm, and it seemed to be a remote controlled blast not a suicide one, said Jamali.

Jinnah Hospital MS Seemin Jamali confirmed that two people were killed, while six people were injured. The injured included two women and two police officials.

Two person killed in the incident are Abdul Ghafoor and Kaleemullah. Ghafoor, who owns a showroom, was brought dead to the hospital while Kaleemullah works in a burger shaop.

Women injured the incident have been identified as Mehwish, 20, resident of Qayyumabad and Musarrat, 21, resident of Lines Area, while two police personnel injured in the incident are SIU Constable Rehan Shah, 38  and SIU Constable Sartaj, 40. Others injured in the incident are Irshad, 29 of Line Area and Muhammad Ayub.

According to Jamali, all of the injured had received pellet wounds.

The attack follows similar high profile attacks on Counter Terrorism incharge SP Raja Umer Khitab and on slain CID officers SP Chaudhry Aslam and Shafiq Tanoli.

Profile of SSP Farooq Awan

SSP Farooq Awan is a highly decorated police officer who had served a good part of his 31-year career in anti-terrorism. Highlights in his career include investigating cases such as the Daniel Pearl murder case, and the attack on Iranian Engineers.

He has served as DSP Anti-terror wing of the Crime Investigation Department, as an SSP with the Anti-Violent Crime Cell, Investigation East, Crime Branch and Special Investigation Unit of the Crime Investigation Agency.

Awan, who started his police career as an ASI in 1982, made a name for himself in combatting crime between 1998 and 2007 when he persecuted those involved in kidnapping, and terror related activities. The highlights were investigation of the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl and attack on Iranian Engineers. He also apprehended a wanted sectarian terrorist during this time.
In recognition of Awan’s performance, the government of Sindh, intended to grant him accelerated promotion.

He was thus rewarded later when the Sindh Cabinet promoted him and a few other officers under a Section 9A of the Civil Service Act 1973. His promotion among a host of other officers came under review when the court took up a case of out of turn promotions. As per court orders, Awan and other officers were demoted to Grade 19.

After the court’s orders on July 10, 2013, he was promoted again.

Condemnations

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Chairman Senate, Leader of the House and Opposition in Senate have condemned the attack on SSP Awan.

PTI chief Imran Khan has also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

Condemn the bomb blast in Khi targeting SSP Farooq Awan. My condolences 2 families of the deceased & prayers 4 full recovery of the injured.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 25, 2014