Just sand: Bomb scare near university in Karachi

The bag, which had two wires protruding from it, contained only sand

KARACHI: Panic spread among students and faculty members after a suspicious bag was found outside the main campus of Iqra University in Karachi on Saturday evening.

Officials were rushed after receiving reports of a suspicious bag placed near the university, located on the Korangi Expressway near Defence View, within the limits of Baloch Colony police station. 

Law enforcement personnel cordoned off the area and the road leading towards Baloch Colony flyover from Qayyumabad Chowrangi was also closed for traffic. Students of the varsity were also asked to remain inside the varsity to avoid any untoward incident. The move also caused a traffic jam at Qayyumabad roundabout.

The bomb disposal squad was also called to the site to examine the suspicious package. After inspecting the bag, they declared that there was no explosive material in it and it was probably a hoax.

Baloch Colony SHO Sohail Akhtar said that the bag was full of sand, adding that as it was found just in front of the varsity, the police took the matter seriously.

Muhammad Sadiq, who works at a book store adjacent to the varsity’s entrance, was the first to spot the suspicious bag.

“It was a box with two wires protruding from it, giving rise to the suspicion that it could be a bomb,” he told The Express Tribune. Subsequently, the varsity administration called the police, who summoned the BDS.

A university student, Adnan, who was leaving the varsity at the time, said that the guards stopped him from exiting through the main gate. “The BDS officials were inspecting the contents of the bag, which is why the university closed off this gate and asked us to leave from the other one.”

The bag had been placed at a spot where most students gather to wait for their vehicles after they leave the university premises.