KARACHI: During a book fair organised by the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba at Karachi University on Wednesday, a hoax bomb call was made which triggered fear and panic.

Police received information about the presence of bombs within and outside the gymnasium hall where tents had been pitched for the book fair, said Gulshan SP Dr Fahad Ahmed.

Contingents of police, who were busy providing security to polio workers during the ongoing polio eradication drive, rushed to the spot. Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials were also called who conducted a thorough search and declared the areas safe.

BDS official Abid Farooq told Dawn that a large number of students were present at the book fair were asked to vacate the place.

Mobina Town SHO Mohammed Nawaz said that the police received information from a caller who identified himself as Osama. The caller had made the call from a mobile phone which was later switched off.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2016