RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI: Two Special Security Unit’s (SSU) constables were killed while 14 others, mostly policemen, sustained injures in an explosion near Murghi Khana bus stop on Friday morning.
The two policemen who lost their lives in the blast were identified as Gulzar, 28 and Chandur, 26, while those received injuries included Umeed Ali, Saleem, Altaf, Sudheer, Ismail, Tayyab, Asif, Sabir, Sain Bux, Ali Niaz, Attaullah and Asif. All of them aged between 25 and 35.
The blast was so powerful that it was heard in many far-flung areas, causing fear and panic among the residents of several localities. Some vehicles were also damaged. Sources in the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said that some five kilograms of explosive material was used in the blast.
According to police, as many as 50 policemen were travelling in an SSU bus at the time of the blast. Shortly after the incident, heavy contingent of police, Rangers and rescue teams rushed to the blast site and cordoned off the area. Victims of the blast were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment. However, two of them succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
DIG-East Munir Shaikh, during his visit to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), told media persons that the blast took place when a vehicle carrying Special Security Squad was on its way to Bilawal House, residence of former president Asif Ali Zardari, for performing guard duties. The explosive material was reportedly planted in a motorcycle and it was detonated through a remote control device when the SSU bus reached Murghi Khana bus stop, near Malir, he added.
The locality where the incident occurred falls under the jurisdiction of Shah Latif police station.
It may be recalled here that a similar attack that took place in February last year where terrorists had targeted a bus at Razaqabad. Around 13 policemen were killed and several others had received injuries in the incident.
Meanwhile, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has reportedly claimed responsibility of the blast.
It may be pointed out that the Friday’s incident was the third terrorist attack in the city in less then 10 days as a blast had occurred on Friday (March 20) at Bohra Muslim community’s mosque in the limits of Arambagh police in which two persons were killed. Later, the same day two Rangers personnel were gunned down in North Nazimabad area when some unidentified assailants targeted a vehicle of the paramilitary force.
