11 die as bomb rocks ANP office in Karachi

Two houses and several vehicles were also damaged in the explosion. The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the blast.



Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, Shahid Nadeem Baloch, told The News that an inquiry team was formed under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Police Zafar Abbas Bukhari of the West Range, while he had also given the task to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to eliminate the network of terrorists and nab those involved in terrorist attacks.



The police immediately cordoned off the site, called the rescue teams and shifted the injured to the Civil Hospital Karachi, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was also called to the blast site.



After the explosion, Additional IG, Karachi, Iqbal Mehmood, DIG West Range Zafar Abbas Bukhari and other senior police officers and officials from the intelligence agencies reached the spot.



Officials from the Sindh Police Forensic Division were also called in who collected evidence from the scene of the crime.Initial investigations revealed that it might be a planted bomb but confirmation of the explosion would be declared after a report from the BDS.



Sources in the JPMC said the hospital received one body of a minor boy, while 15 others were injured. The ASH sources said they received 17 injured of which two had expired. They were identified as Fazl-e-Elahi, 15, and Fayyaz, 18. The CHK sources confirmed six dead and eight injured.



Among the dead was also Dr Azizullah, a brother of the late religious scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamozai, who succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Activists and leaders of the ANP reached the hospitals. They lodged a strong protest and demanded arrest of the culprits.



A senior officer, on condition of anonymity, said that a threatening letter was received in which the banned TTP had threatened three political parties — ANP, MQM and PPP. He said a meeting to discuss the security measures with the leaders of political parties was also held. Moreover, a meeting was also arranged with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials on the threat perception. Afterwards, a standard operating procedure (SoP) was formed which was also conveyed to the leadership of all the political parties.



The officer added that in the recent cases, the code of conduct was not followed, including in the Mominabad explosion, as they had not informed the local police before the procession. Till the filing of the report, the rescue teams with machinery were busy in removing the debris from the scene of the blast. Agencies add: According to the ANP Sindh chapter chief, Shahi Syed, the blast occurred outside the election office of Bashir Jan in Mominabad area.



"Several activists were involved in the political activities at the election office at the time of the attack," he said, adding that Bashir Jan remained unhurt in the attack.Meanwhile, Bashir Jan told the media that he remained unhurt in the attack but his car was badly damaged.



"The car was hurled in the air by the force of the blast but fortunately I survived the attack," he said, adding that several activists were seen lying on the ground after the blast.The MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the attack.



Earlier, a high-level meeting decided to launch a full-fledged targeted operation in Karachi and gave a free hand to the security institutions to carry out the job.Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was informed about these arrangements in detail during a meeting chaired by him at the Sindh Governor House to review the law and order situation in the province.



The meeting was also attended by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi, representatives of law enforcing agencies, heads of intelligence agencies, representatives of the provincial administration and senior officials of the PM Secretariat.



Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Ejaz Chaudhry, in a detailed briefing to the prime minister, said a complete security plan had been prepared by the provincial government for smooth conduct of general elections. This plan, he said, has already been approved by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim.



Zahid Qurban Alvi told the PM that he had personally visited the interior of the province to get first hand knowledge of the issues that relate to law and order and conduct of elections in Sindh."We have encouraged the people to come out of their homes and exercise their right to vote," said the caretaker CM.


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