KARACHI, March 22: A hoax bomb call was received in the Chief Minister’s House on Thursday morning at around 11.05am. Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim was present in the house when the call was made.

Soon after receiving the call, the bomb disposal squad was called who conducted a thorough search but found nothing suspicious and gave clearance. Besides the bomb disposal squad, fire tenders and ambulances were also called in which left the place after the CM House was given clearance.

When news of the bomb call was aired on TV channels, mediamen rushed to the scene.

Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim who was in CM House and appeared calm, came out from the secretariat located in the premises and had a brief chat with the waiting journalists. His Press Secretary, Madad Ali Sindhi, said the chief minister feared only God.

He said despite the bomb call, the staff was working as per routine. He called the hoax bomb call the work of frustrated people who had failed to launch a movement against the government. The very people were indulging in rumour mongering to destablise the government. He said these people would fail in their nefarious designs.

Police officials said the hoax call caused panic among the staff as they vacated the building.

Sources said the police and rangers cordoned off the area and searched the building after a man, identifying himself as Abdul Qadir, called 911, the phone number of CM House control room, saying bombs were ticking in the four corners of the CM House.

A senior police official said this was a serious matter. He said last night a similar phone call was received at the US consulate located on Abdullah Haroon Road but this also was a hoax call. Earlier on March 16 and 20, the offices of a TV channel got a call that bombs had been planted in the premises but later proved to be hoax calls.