KARACHI, June 29: The Nishtar Park blast inquiry tribunal has again expressed its disappointment over the continued absence of organizers of April 11 Eid-i-Milad procession and function from its proceedings.

Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of the Sindh High Court, who constitutes the tribunal, while examining an eye-witness on Thursday stated that his task would have been greatly facilitated had the organizers joined in the inquiry. Summons were served on Mohammad Hussain Lakhani, who took charge of the Nishtar Park stage after its clearance by the bomb disposal unit and Jamshed Town police about 2 pm on April 11, but AAG Sarwar Khan informed the tribunal that he had declined to appear.

Similarly, a process was served on Altaf Ahmed Qadri, who lodged the FIR of the incident at 1 am on April 12, but he too refused to record evidence. They are both eye-witnesses and their versions were required not only for obtaining first-hand information but also for verification of statements made by other witnesses, including bomb disposal and police officials.

Twelve organizations, including Jamaat Ahle Sunnat of Shah Turabul Haq Qadri, the permit holder of the main procession that came out of New Memon Masjid, and Engineer Sarwat Qadri of Sunni Tehrik, had been requested by the tribunal to participate in the inquiry. But they chose to stay away. Maulana Asghar Dars, head of a rival faction, appeared but refused any assistance in procuring the evidence of Qari Abdur Rehman, who told him that something went up from and fell down on the stage at the time of the blast. The Qari was present on the stage but has not volunteered to record his statement.

The tribunal asked Additional Advocate-General Sarwar Khan to bring his statement in respect of service of processes to Mr Lakhani and complainant Altaf Qadri on record to enable it to decide whether and how to ensure their presence. The only organization co-operating with the tribunal is the Pakistan Sunni Movement of Shah Sirajul Haq Qadri whose counsel, Javaid A. Chhatari, said he would produce nine or 10 witnesses, including the PSM chief, who was present on the stage along with his minor sons at the time of the explosion. He is likely to depose on Friday or Saturday.

The latest expression of the tribunal’s disappointment came during the examination of Mohammad Asif, who was injured while offering maghreb prayers on the ground but adjacent to the stage. While showing him a photograph, Justice Jafferi spotted a man suspiciously lurking beside the stage. He wanted to know his identity and wondered he might have been known to one or more of the organizers. The AAG was asked to ascertain his identity, if necessary from Nadra.

At another point during Asif’s testimony, the tribunal wanted to know whether the main banner displayed on the stage was wrapped around a wooden frame. Asif, who is a carpenter, said it was, but the AAG said it there was no frame and the banner had only thick borders to support it and they looked like a frame. He said people were standing and moving under the banner, which was not possible under a hard frame. The controversy could easily have been resolved by the organizers, who must have known how they prepared and decorated the stage.

The banner and the tables placed alongside the stage have become the focal point of inquiry as according to many eye-witnesses a loud bang was heard from near the stage. The tribunal persistently asked the witnesses whether they heard a second blast or the sound of gunfire. It is ruling out no possibility and is inquiring whether there were two blasts occurring simultaneously on the stage and the ground. Gunfire is being looked into because according to one medico-legal report, the injured had ‘blackened’ wounds, which could be caused only by firearm bullets. But most of the witnesses said they were stunned and numbed out of their senses by the blast and could not look around immediately.Asif said he was offering prayers adjacent to the stage when the blast occurred and he felt like having been thrown into air. His hearing was impaired. He was removed to Civil Hospital by a police van. He was not satisfied with his treatment there was shifted to Al Mustafa Medical Centre, Ghulshan-i-Iqbal, which carried out four surgical operations in five days. Another operation was carried out a month later. A pellet taken out from his body was given to him and he had preserved it. The tribunal asked him to produce the pellet. A piece of plastic also stuck in his foot and he detached it himself but did not preserve it.

Asif’s injuries were photographed and he was shown a video and pictures to refresh his memory.