KARACHI, July 11: Two men were killed in a bomb explosion here on Friday at a commercial building on Sharea Faisal.
The blast, which could have been set off by a timer-device, occurred at around 7:45 in the morning at the main entrance of Kawish Crown Plaza. A guard, belonging to a private security company, Mohammad Hanif, 22, and another unidentified man were killed.
The building, which contains many offices, was largely empty at the time of the blast. The toll otherwise might have been higher.
No clue as to the motive behind the explosion or to the perpetrators was available till Friday night.
The explosion badly damaged the main entrance and fixings besides smashing windowpanes up to four floors of the 10-storey building. The blast was so powerful that the security guard’s body was blown some 70-80 yards away. Some people were injured by broken glass and were discharged from hospital after first aid.
Bomb Disposal Squad officials said that the bomb, weighing five kilograms, damaged the pillar, where it was apparently placed. As the floor was of concrete, it damaged the surface of the floor but did not precipitate a crater. The rest of the building was not damaged but the people, who came to work there were sent home. A traffic foul-up resulted on Sharea Faisal after the incident.
Police and the Edhi Foundation said that security guard Mohammad Hanif, who belonged to Muzaffargarh, had joined a security firm only six days ago. He was unmarried. His body was sent to his village.
Sindh police inspector-general Syed Kamal Shah told Dawn: “We are looking into all possible aspects to ascertain as to who could be involved in the blast. However, in view of the Quetta carnage, although it was a different incident altogether, we cannot rule out the possibility of a foreign hand as it is an attempt to sabotage peace in the city.”
He said the police had associated some people with the investigation process, and a security guard, who was on duty during night, was also being questioned.
He said that it was possible that someone had put a bag containing the explosive device beside the chair used by Hanif.
Mr Shah added: “It has not yet been established whether the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled device. It could have been a timer-device because in the case of remote-controlled device, the operator monitors the situation and his motive is to cause a massive loss of life.”
The owner of the Kawish Crown Plaza is described as Ahmed Jamal in the Karachi Building Control Authority records, the sources in the authority said. The building plan comprising ground floor plus 10 floors was approved, but the owner had violated the rules by covering open space and excess area. A request for regularization of the plan was being under process, KBCA sources added.
The Sindh police chief said that it was not known whether there was any tussle or controversy among those claiming to be the building’s owners. “There is no such thing on the police record and we cannot comment on this issue. We are looking into this aspect,” he said.
Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar has condemned the blast and ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident.
