KARACHI: Tribunal seeks newspaper reports: Nishtar Park blast
By Shujaat Ali Khan
KARACHI, June 23: The tribunal probing the Nishtar Park blast on Friday asked the Additional Advocate-General to request the Information Department to provide copies of newspaper editions carrying reports, pictures and investigative material on the tragedy.
The tribunal also recorded the statements of photographers of three different dailies who were covering the event.
In the meantime, the complainant in the Nishtar Park blast case failed to show up as the Pakistan Sunni Movement chief, Shah Sirajul Haq, the only party that answered the inquiry tribunal, threatened to boycott the proceedings if his counsel was not provided security.
Advocate Javaid Ahmed Chhatari informed the tribunal that an attempt to kidnap him was made outside the Sindh High Court building on Thursday as he was going to his office in his car.
‘A well-built’ person forced himself into his car but luckily his staff was travelling with him and he left in a huff. He said he had never seen the intruder in uniform. Shah Siraj said his Sunni Movement would be forced to boycott the proceedings if its counsel was harassed or threatened.
Additional Advocate-General Sarwar Khan assured the tribunal that security and safety of the counsel would be ensured but the allegation was apparently a gimmick to attract media attention.
The tribunal, which consists of Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of the SHC, asked the AAG to ask the police to provide a security guard to the counsel. Police guards appeared as Shah Siraj and the counsel were talking to the media after the Friday proceedings.
The AAG informed the tribunal that its process had been served on complainant Altaf Qadri, Jamshed Town nazim of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, but he was not willing to appear and record his statement.
Earlier on Thursday, Sindh chief of the organization, Mohammad Hussain Lakhani, who took charge of the Nishtar Park stage from the Jamshed Town police after its clearance by the bomb disposal unit at 2 pm on April 11 failed to give appearance.
The tribunal asked the AAG to bring the statement on record to enable it to proceed in the matter. Jamaat Ahle Sunnat is among the 11 organizations requested by the tribunal to appear before it. Only the Sunni Movement decided to participate in the inquiry.
Meanwhile, photographers Javed Jiaja, Shakir Suleman and Shoaib Ahmed of dailies Kawish, Juraat and Jang recorded their statements before the tribunal, Mr Jieja, who was severely injured in the blast and had his foot and ankle still plastered, was not called to the witness box and was examined while seated on a bench. The tribunal asked the registrar to have his pellet wounds below his neck photographed.
The photographer said he reached Nishtar Park at about 6-45 pm. Shah Turabul Haq was addressing the gathering but as ‘maghreb’ approached, he cut short his speech and announced that the meeting would continue after the prayers. Azan was recited soon afterwards. He did not join the prayers on the stage near the rostrum.
The organizers served refreshments to the media people present. Suddenly, there was a loud blast tearing up his right eardrum. He fell unconscious and found himself in Bantwa Memon Hospital, Kharadar, when he regained consciousness. He received pellet injuries below his neck, left arm, right foot. His camera fell from his hands when the blast occurred. His statement was recorded by police. He said his name had not been included in the compensation list.
Suleman said he was bruised on the right thigh by two pellets. He showed the pellet marks to the tribunal. He reached the park 15 or 20 minutes before the maghreb prayers. He photographed the congregation on the stage when namazis were performing roku. He did not shoot any scene of the prayers on the ground. He was standing in the open space between the stage and the ground when the blast occurred. He had no idea of the spot where the blast or bang originated from. He was taken to the JPMC. The witness said he had given a CD to the investigators. The tribunal saw the photograph of the stage published by daily Juraat of April 12 and appreciated its quality.
Mr Shoaib Ahmed said he reached the park between 6-15 and 6-30 pm. He took pictures of the stage from different angles. Maulana Abbas Qadri, Maulana Iftikhar Bhatti and Maulana Akram Qadri arrived amid Shah Turab’s speech. As the congregation offered prayers, he believed that his job had finished and came down the stage. Haji Hanif Billoo told him not to go away as his turn would come after the prayers.
The photographer came to the press gallery near the gate where refreshments were being served. In a fraction of a second, as he was sitting on a table in a relaxed mood, a stunning blast occurred and he felt something had hit him on his back. He picked up his camera after composing himself and rushed to the stage. There were bodies lying on the stage and two of the victims had fallen from the stage. He inquired about Javed Jieja and other colleagues after hurriedly photographing the stage. Police called him 10 or 15 days later.
At the IGP’s request an album of the pictures, most of which had been carried by Jang and Awam, taken by him was given to the police by his editor. The tribunal asked its registrar to send a similar request on its behalf.
