JACOBABAD, Jan 13: A 20-inch portion of a pipeline supplying gas to Punjab and Dadu was blown up in Tangwani taluka on Thursday. However, the repairs took 32 hours and the supply has been restored. Sources said the pipeline was destroyed with explosive material near Ghulam Farid Jakhrani village on the Sindh-Balochistan border. As a result, gas supply to different areas of Sindh and Punjab was suspended.

The bomb disposal squad from Sukkur and SSGC team reached the scene.

Regional Police Officer Akbar Arain and Colonel Tariq Mahmood visited the spot. The gas supply was restored after five hours from an alternate supply line. Kashmore DPO Sohrab Mahar told reporters that it was a terrorist act and police arrested 16 suspects.

He identified them as Farid Jakhrani, Hanif Jakhrani and Abdul Nabi Jakhrani.

Police have registered a case on the complaint of the deputy general manager (technical) of SSGC.—Correspondent