KARACHI: LEAs put on high alert after PIDC explosion: Inquiry teams formed
KARACHI, Nov 15: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad on Tuesday put the security agencies on high alert and directed them to beef up security and revamp the three sensitive security zones already set up for citizen’s safety.
He constituted two specialized teams of experts, headed by DIG Investigation Manzoor Mughal and DIG CID Wajid Durrani, to investigate the bomb blast that killed three persons and wounded 21 others in front of PIDC House at a meeting held to review law and order situation at Governor’s House.
The meeting was called within hours of the blast listed as terrorist’s act, aimed at destroying peace in Karachi and even sabotaging Nov 19th donors’ conference in Islamabad for earthquake affected people. Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, Information Adviser Salahuddin Haider, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman, IGP Asad Jahangir, Principal Secretary Saleem Khan besides high civil and military officials attended the meeting.
It was informed that three persons died and 21 others wounded in the blast. The reports of some television channels about two explosions or death of six persons were described as highly exaggerated, which created panic in the public. It observed that media should feel responsibility and try and build public confidence in times of crisis rather than causing depression or creating panic.
In order to save maximum possible number of lives following any explosion, it was decided that crowd would be prevented from gathering at the site of the incident. Apart from creating hurdles in rescue work, the presence of too many people at the site often destroyed vital evidence which could lead to the arrest of culprits.
For the media people too, both print and electronic, the area affected by blasts would be cordoned off through a tape, as has been a practice in the western world. Journalists and photographers would be allowed to operate from outside the barred premises, it decided.
The governor expressed satisfaction over the response of police, fire brigade and other government agencies including the Karachi Building Control Authority as well as the city district government.
He asked the police and security agencies to be more vigilant and guard mosques and Imambargahs to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
He felt sorry that today’s incident was a clear attempt to shake the confidence, which had soared high in the public about their security after peaceful local government elections. But, the way the people faced the situation was indeed commendable, he added.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim expressed deep grief over the bomb blast outside PIDC building in which three persons were killed and 21 wounded.
Talking to reporters, the chief minister said that it was an act of terrorism, as anti-state elements did not want to see the country progressing and attempted to tarnish its image.
He said those responsible for this ghastly act would not escape the wrath of law and would soon be brought to book.
During his visit to the site of explosion, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui said it was an act aimed at sabotaging law and order to create scare among people and an atmosphere of uncertainty.
Rauf Siddiqui said it would be premature to say anything concrete about the culprits but investigations had started and an important clue had been found from the spot which, hopefully, would lead us to reach the culprits and take them to task. He said that terrorists could not succeed in their nefarious design as the law enforcement agencies had been put on red alert.
The home minister pointed out that earlier also in most cases of terrorism, the accused involved had been apprehended.
Later, he visited the Jinnah and Civil hospitals and inquired about the condition and welfare of the injured. He announced Rs200,000 for the heirs of those who lost their lives in the blast and Rs25,000 each for injured.
