KARACHI, June 15: A hoax bomb call created panic at the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) headquarters at Hasan Square on Wednesday. TPO Gulshan Asif Ajaz told Dawn that SSGC head office received an anonymous call saying that a bomb had been placed in the building located on Sir Shah Suliman Road.

Subsequently, the police was informed and the bomb disposal squad was called in to start a search in the building.

The building was evacuated; staff numbering into hundreds came on the road.

Traffic also remained suspended on Sir Shah Suliman Road for a brief period. After carrying out a search for over two hours in the building, the bomb disposal squad gave a green signal.

According to a statement issued by the SSGC, a male caller had informed the SSGC operator in a call that lasted 40 seconds, that a bomb has been placed somewhere in the head office, saying that it would go off in half an hour.

The SSGC security cleared the building of all employees and visitors in an orderly manner using staircase and emergency exits, in less than 10 minutes, the statement added.