20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 19: Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad described the recovery of huge cache of explosives as a big success and said it showed the government's firmness to fight terrorism.

Talking to reporters at the office of the DIG Operations here on Monday, the governor appreciated the efforts made by the police and intelligence agencies and said the recovery of the huge cache of explosives had saved the city from a possible disaster.

Police had arrested Shamim Ahmed alias Shami, a key member of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and believed to be an expert in bomb making, on Saturday. He led the police on Sunday to the recovery of a huge quantity of bombs with detonators, parcel bombs, local- made grenades, remote control and other explosive material at a house in Mehmoodabad.

The governor inspected the explosives material, which was recovered by the police. He was informed that the explosives were stored in a rented house. He said that people should not rent out their houses to tenants without proper verification. He asked people to report police if they found any illegal activity in their rented houses to avoid any trouble in future.

Later, Shah Faisal Town Police Officer Asif Aijaz introduced the police officials, who arrested Shamim, to the governor. To reward the officials for their efforts and achievement, the governor promoted them to the next rank.

Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar also visited the DIG Operations office to inspect the explosive material. Mr Mahar appreciated the police performance and expressed hope that more terrorists would be arrested following the recovery of arms and arrest of an LJ activist.

The adviser to the chief minister on home affairs, Aftab Shaikh, who was also present on the occasion, said that Shamim had given some information about his accomplices and the police were trying to locate them. He said that more arrests were expected in this respect.

The Inspector-General of Police, Syed Kamal Shah, said that the explosive used in the car bomb blast near the Bible Society on Friday and that was recovered from the Mehmoodabad house had very much resemblance. However, he neither blamed Shami for the car bombing nor ruled out Shami's involvement in the incident.

He said, "It is premature to say about his (Shami's) involvement in the car bomb explosion, as the investigations are still in progress. The IGP said that the explosives and ready-to-use bombs, including parcel bombs, were detonated at an isolated place near Hino Chowrangi in Korangi.

The investigation sources said that Shami had allegedly been involved in the Friday's car bombing, which wounded 14 people, including some law enforcement officials.

They said that Shami's name was also included in the 'Red Book' - issued by the government containing 39 names of the most wanted religious extremists. Of 39, the sources said that seven, including Shami, had been arrested and one surrendered to the police.

According to a list issued to the press, four local-made grenades, 22 un-assembled grenades, three packs of local-made low explosives about 40 kilograms, two packs of high explosive (C-4), four incendiary chemical bottles, eight bags of explosives, a briefcase full of electric circuits, a briefcase with detonators, two TT pistols, reading material on training of jihadis, books on bomb-making and precautions to save oneself from law enforcement agencies were recovered from the house in Mehmoodabad.