Foiled: Bomb planted outside transporter’s house defused

Police find letter at bomb site containing names of the Islamic State and LeJ

KARACHI: Panic gripped Orangi Town when residents of the area spotted a bomb outside the house of a transporter on Wednesday.

The bomb was placed outside the residence of Haji Mairaj, located at MPR Colony in Orangi Town. The residents immediately informed the police. Reacting on the information, the police rushed to the site and cordoned it off. No one was allowed to come within 200 metres of the bomb site. The police also summoned the bomb disposal squad (BDS). After examining it, the BDS experts told the police that the bomb did not contain any explosive material.

Police officials also found a letter along with the bomb, containing the names of the Islamic State and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. “It was an improvised explosive device (IED) and was a remote-controlled device but did not contain any explosive material,” said the BDS expert.

Police officials said that the transporter had been demanded to pay protection money several times by extortionists but he always refused to comply with such demands. This time, the extortionists demanded Rs700,000, which Mairaj again refused to pay, they added.



Speaking about the warning letter found from the bomb site, police officials said that the extortionists warned the transporter of dire consequences. “We are keeping an eye on you and your business,” the police quoted the letter. “We will destroy your house and business if you tell anyone about this letter. It is up to you whether you want to make friendship with us or want enmity with us. Be ready for your coffin if you want to be an enemy.”

Orangi division SP Ali Asif said that investigation has been initiated to trace the culprits and to ascertain if these militant outfits are behind the incident or someone else is using their names.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2015.