KARACHI, June 26: The flash of blast originated from the soil of the ground near stage, an eyewitness told an inquiry tribunal probing the Nishtar Park tragedy on Monday.Zahoor Ahmed, who was present in the front row of the Eid Miladun Nabi congregation at Nishtar Park on April 11, said he was not offering prayers with several other persons and suddenly saw a flash two to three feet away from the last row of namazis adjacent to the stage.

The witness, who received pellet injury in his ankle, told the tribunal that after the blast he ran to save his life and came out of Nishtar Park and took lift from a motorcyclist, who shifted him to a car, which was going to Jinnah hospital.

He said he was shifted to civil hospital later, where he remained admitted for three days. He said police also recorded his statement.

The witness was the first person who appeared before the tribunal since start of the proceeding who helped the tribunal to ascertain the place where the blast occurred.

The tribunal also examined the statement of Mohammad Zafar Qadri, who was present on stage and was offering Sunnat prayers at the time of explosion.

He said after the blast he became senseless and his brother who was offering prayers just after him took him to a hospital for treatment. The witness received three pallets injuries in his legs.

A cameraman of Dhoom TV Qaiser Malik produced a CD before the tribunal regarding video of procession of Shah Turabul Haq and congregation at Nishtar Park.

The tribunal adjourned the hearing for Tuesday as some of the prosecution witnesses could not turn up.—PPI