KARACHI: Dr Arbab pledges safety of consulate staff
KARACHI, March 3: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Friday visited the residence of US Consul-General Mary Witt to convey his profound grief and sorrow over the death of a US officer and a Pakistani employee of the Consulate in a bomb blast near the US Consulate.
“We strongly condemn this horrific terrorist attack”, the chief minister said, and requested the consul-general to convey his heart-felt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the government and people of Sindh and to the government and people of United States over their loss.
Dr Arbab said Pakistan and United State are partners in the war against terrorism. The attack indicates intentions of those who seek to harm the ties between two friendly countries.
“But, we are determined to defeat their evil designs”, he declared.
He assured the consul-general of full support of the government of Sindh to bring the culprits before justice and that all possible efforts required for safety of the consulate and its staff members will be taken.
Mary Witt thanked the chief minister and said she would convey the sympathies and condolences of the Sindh government to President Bush and the bereaved families.
CONSULATE SECURITY: IG Sindh Jahangir Mirza has formed a four-member committee to minutely examine the existing security arrangements around the US Consulate inclusive of Marriot Hotel and to identify the loopholes.
The committee has also been directed to suggest ways and means to boost security of the high security zone to a level where it becomes impregnable and invulnerable.
The IG has directed the committee to complete the given task as early as possible and submit their findings and recommendations by March 9.
The Additional IG, Special Branch has been nominated chairman of the committee while DIG, Special Branch, SS/Security, Special Branch and SSP/Security, CCP Karachi have been appointed members.
Jahangir Mirza also issued separate directives to the Capital City Police Officer, Karachi, Additional IG, Special Branch, Regional Police Officers of Hyderabad and Sukkur and DIG, CID to review and enhance security arrangements for all diplomats, diplomatic missions, foreign banks, foreign nationals and foreign food chains in the province.
“The security should be doubly ensured and there should be no laxity or lapse in provision of security cover to establishments and personages”, he remarked. The compliance report to this effect be positively submitted for perusal by March 5, he added.
BLAST CONDEMNED: The President of the Catholic Association, Herbert Fernandes, has condemned the bomb blast near the US Consulate on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday, he said that those involved in acts of terrorism and causing damage to human lives and public property had no sympathy for the country, province or the city.
Fernandes stated that the terrorist act had been committed at a time when the US President, George Bush, was about to visit the country.
“The saboteurs wanted to bring the noble religion of Islam and Pakistan into disrepute by restoring to terrorism and bloodshed,” he added.
Fernandes stressed that Islam being a peaceful religion was deadly opposed to such cowardly acts.
He expressed hope that the government would be able to soon arrest the collaborators.
VICTIMS: Eight victims of bomb blast, admitted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Thursday, were not discharged on Friday.
They were among 28 patients brought to the hospital from the site of explosion. Of the total, 20 were discharged after necessary and required medical assistance the same day. Five of the rest were comparatively stable while three were in serious condition.
However, as traffic flow in the city was thin on Friday, the patients with improved health status did not leave the hospital. Three to four ambulances included in JPMC’s fleet are mainly utilized to bring in patients.
Absence of transport that prevented a large majority of JPMC staffers to join their regular duty was also described as a reason that hindered discharge of these patients, as certain formalities were yet to be fulfilled.
Dr Seemien Jamali said that the three serious patients were still on machines, including the one with head injury and another with chest wounds. She maintained that the condition of all the patients was gradually improving. —Agencies
