KARACHI: Police, bomb disposal squad officers and rescue workers rushed to two parks and a petrol pump in North Karachi and a busy Sunday bazaar in New Karachi after receiving calls about the presence of bombs there, triggering fear and panic, officials said.

All these places were crowded due to holiday and were vacated by the authorities to avoid any eventuality during search operations. However the calls turned out to be hoax.

Officials said calls were made by two separate persons from mobile phones between 6pm and 9pm.

"The first call was received about the presence of a bomb in Bi Aman park in North Karachi. The crowded park had to be vacated after which the Bomb Disposal Squad arrived," said a police officer.

BDS officials later termed the call 'mischief' as nothing was found from the park.

Similar calls were soon received about the presence of bombs in a nearby petrol pump and Arif Hussain Shaheed Mini Zoo Park.

"The fourth and the final call was received about the presence of an explosive device in the makeshift Car Sunday Bazaar in New Karachi. The call, which also turned out to be hoax, created panic among the visitors and traders in the market," said BDS official Abid Farooq.

SSP Central, Muqaddas Haider told Dawn that the calls were made from New Karachi on the police’s helpline 15-Madadgar. He added that investigators were trying to trace the callers.