December 15, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 14: A high intensity bomb wrecked the bridge near 10-Corps Headquarters moments after President Musharraf’s motorcade crossed it on Sunday night while on its way to Army House from Chaklala airport, security sources said.

The device, which had been fitted beneath the Lai bridge (Ammar chowk), exploded with a big bang at around 7.15pm — about seven seconds after the last vehicle of the presidential convoy passed over it. The last vehicle was occupied by the DSP Security, the sources said.

No police official was present at or beneath the culvert when the convoy crossed over it, according to the security sources. However, three policemen who were supposed to be on duty have been taken into custody for questioning.

President Pervez Musharraf arrived at Islamabad airport from Karachi at 7pm and had just crossed the bridge when the bomb exploded.

Army and civil inquiries into the incident have been ordered, government and military spokesmen said.

Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said the blast could be the work of elements opposed to the government’s recent move to normalize relations with India.

He told Dawn that he had ordered an inquiry to be conducted by a committee headed by the chairman of the interior ministry’s National Crisis Management Cell (CNCM), Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema.

Director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan told Dawn that it was too early to speculate about the motives of the blast.

He said a military inquiry would be held as is normally done in such cases.

“It was definitely a terrorist act and a sabotage activity,” he said.

He said bomb disposal squads were examining the type and intensity of the device used.

The interior minister said the bold stand taken by President Musharraf to normalize ties with India would not be a welcome decision for those bent upon pursuing their self-seeking agendas.

He said there was no loophole in the president’s security. However, it would be beefed up further in view of the blast.

“Those who had planted the bomb took advantage of inclement weather as it becomes difficult for law enforcement agencies to properly check each and every inch of the VVIP route used by the president during rain,” he said.

“Now everyone is on his toes and the people concerned have been directed to strictly check the VVIP route to avoid a repeat of such incidents in the future,” he said.

Responding to a question, the minister said the president’s movements would remain normal.

The minister said security would be tightened further in the twin cities of Islamabad especially for the forthcoming Saarc summit to be held in the capital next month.

“It is yet to be ascertained whether it was a time device or a remote-controlled bomb. Because of the heavy damage at the blast site, it was difficult for the experts to collect the leftover pieces of the device in the dark,” a security source said.

However, a grim-faced deputy inspector general of police Rawalpindi Israr Ahmed told reporters that “two controlled bombs” had been planted underneath the bridge. Luckily, nobody was hurt or injured.

The echo of the blast was heard miles away. The newspaper offices were flooded with telephone calls shortly after the sound of the blast echoed in the city.

“We heard a loud noise of explosion and ran towards it. I saw the bridge collapse and a thick cloud of dust rise up,” two passers-by told Dawn without giving their names.

Ambulance sirens wailed and rescue workers were brought in to search for victims, but luckily nobody was reported injured or hurt.

Some residents of the nearby areas said they thought the city had been hit by terrorists.

Shortly after the explosion, the troops took over the bridge and started patrol in the area.

Troops have also been deployed at sensitive places in Rawalpindi and roads leading towards the Army House.

Roads leading towards the damaged bridge were closed and traffic diverted.