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KARACHI, Dec 24: The police investigations into Tuesday’s firecrackers explosion, which killed two persons and damaged a few houses in a street of Al Noor Society, seem to be heading nowhere, as a lethargic response from the law enforcers and unclaimed bodies lying in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital have added to the mystery of the event.
Though the Samnabad police station lodged an FIR (100/2008) on Wednesday against Imtiaz-ul-Haq, a government employee, who allegedly ran a firecrackers manufacturing facility inside his rented first floor home, they failed to find any clue to the family, missing since after the blast.
“The FIR has been registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 while Sections 322 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) have also been incorporated,” said Khawaja Naveed, SP of Gulberg Town. “The two bodies found from the spot have been lying unidentified and after going through the records we have learnt that the hi-roof van, carrying the firecrackers and explosive substances, was owned by Imtiaz.”
The SP of Gulberg Town went on to say that no one from the area had come forward to report any of their relatives missing after the blast, which suggested that the two persons killed in the explosion were either of the same house or at least did not reside in Block 19 of Federal B. Area.
Since the investigations into the incident have hardly been able to determine the reasons and people behind the episode, speculation is running high, along with conspiracy theories, as questions are being asked about the sudden disclosure of the fact that such a facility was being operated in one of the city’s most populated localities.
Unanswered questions
Furthermore, no family connection of the people that died in the blast have further piqued people’s curiosity and caused them to think that something is indeed fishy about the whole episode.
The police high-ups admit that there are several unanswered questions and the investigations so far have remained below the required level to trace any clue about the nature and level of Imtiaz’s business, his family’s whereabouts and what really happened to cause such a huge blast.
“No doubt there is a mystery and it further deepens when there is no claim from any side for the two bodies,” said Waseem Ahmed, Capital City Police Officer. “Secondly, one can feel justified in commenting that there is incompetence from the police to some extent. But we are giving them (police investigators) some time to trace any clue or at least family connection of the prime suspect behind the whole scene.”
He said the family of accused Imtiaz, which was reportedly inside the house when the blast occurred, went missing a few minutes after the incident. Mr Ahmed said a few hours after the blast there were some reports that he (Imtiaz) had received burns and was being treated at a local hospital, but this turned out to be wrong information.
“Since an investigation team is doing its job, one should expect some progress to trace the people behind the blast sooner or later. I don’t think it would remain an unsolved case for a long time,” added the CCPO.
Low-intensity substance
Earlier in the day, a team of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) visited the site in Al Noor Society and reached the conclusion that the explosive substance used in the blast was of low intensity.
“The damage was done due to a huge quantity and not because of any life-threatening or dangerous substance,” said an official citing a BDS report. “Purely local raw materials were used in the firecrackers found unexploded in the area, which mainly included phosphorus. But they are prone to fire and can cause loss of life if not handled properly.”
He said the firecrackers were prepared mainly for the huge sound they cause when exploded, but due to the massive quantity of the substances packed in the vehicle, it led to the collapse of walls and rooftop of one of the houses.
