February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 23: An inquiry tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts was told on Saturday that no bullet mark was found during the forensic examination of seven vehicles, including former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s float, which was damaged in the twin blasts.

The head of the Forensic Laboratory Criminalistic, sub-inspector Mehar Ali, testified before the tribunal chief, retired Justice Dr Ghous Mohammad, that on Oct 31, 2007 he had examined the seven vehicles -- the float, three police mobiles and a Suzuki pickup, a Santro car and a Mini Pajero -- at the Aziz Bhatti police station.

He said he was an expert in firearms and had examined all vehicles to find any bullet mark.

He said 265 ball bearings hit the float while 260 ball bearings hit a police mobile van. “The windscreen, window and rear glasses were found broken as a result of the blasts. No mark of any firearms was seen,” he said.

The witness said two more police mobiles and a private pickup were also examined and no evidence of use of firearms was found. The windscreens of three vehicles were found broken as a result of the blasts, he added.

He deposed that he had also examined a Santro car, bearing no registration number, and found that 419 ball bearings had pierced its body and its windscreen, all windows and rear glasses were broken due to the blasts.

About the seventh vehicle, he said 97 ball bearings had pierced the Mini Pajero, also having no registration number, and it was completely burnt as a result of the blasts.

SI Ali told the tribunal that he had done his Master’s in Economics and LLB and later completed a one-year certificate course from a laboratory in Peshawar as a firearm expert.

The tribunal was surprised when the FLC head informed it that he had never seen a bomb and therefore he could not say as to what was the object that caused the blasts.

Meanwhile, the tribunal’s liaison officer, SSP Niaz Khoso, informed retired Justice Dr Ghous that Ms Bhutto’s chief security officer, retired Major Imtiaz, wanted to testify on Feb 25 as he had some engagements on Feb 26. The tribunal in consultation with special prosecutor Arshad Lodhi changed the date of Mr Imtiaz’s testimony to March 5.

The tribunal adjourned its proceedings till Feb 28.