LARKANA: The residence of senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in the Rehmatpur locality came under attack on Tuesday when two unknown persons lobbed what police described as a cracker and rode away.

Officials said that luckily, the low-intensity explosive device did not cause any casualty or any major damage to the house of Mr Khuhro, who is the president of the PPP’s Sindh chapter and chairman of the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Larkana SSP Dr Mir Rohal Khan Khoso and DSP Haidri Paras Bakhrani along with a team of Bomb Disposal Squad reached the scene and launched the investigations with the help of footage obtained from close circuit TV cameras.

Police say low-intensity explosive device didn’t cause any major damage

Larkana Deputy Mayor Mohammad Amin Shaikh was present at the Khuhro House when the incident happened, he said.

Mr Khuhro said the SSP had told him the motorcycle riders threw the cracker packed in a can of talcum powder and escaped.

“I’ll not stop playing my role for democracy and am not afraid of anyone. During Jam Sadiq’s days, similar attempts were made to shake me but I stood my ground and would continue to raise voice for people and Sindh’s issues in the face of such incidents,” he said.

PPP-Sindh general secretary Waqar Mehdi, information secretary Ajiz Dhamraho, Noman Shaikh, Ali Mohammed Sahito and others condemned the attack on their colleague’s residence.

Govt asked to beef up security at Khuhro’s houses

The secretary (committees) of Sindh Assembly, Mohammad Khan Rind, on Tuesday wrote to additional chief secretary (home) and inspector general of police (IGP) calling for provision of adequate security to PAC chairman Khuhro at his residences in Larkana and Karachi.

The letter, a copy of which was available with Dawn, said the request followed the cracker blast near Mr Khuhro’s residence in Larkana which had raised concerns about the safety of “the high-profile public figure”.

“Considering the critical role of PAC in ensuring transparency and accountability in government finances it is essential that the chairman be provided robust security arrangements to mitigate any potential risks,” said the letter.

The secretary hence requested consideration of measures like comprehensive assessment of current security situation around Mr Khuhro’s residences along with deployment of security personnel to ensure his safety, it said.

The letter requested that necessary security measures inside and outside Mr Khuhro’s residences be made as top priority to safeguard integrity of the PAC and maintain public’s trust in it, said the secretary.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024