RAWALPINDI, Aug 30: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack at a private clinic in the garrison city and warned more attacks if the retired general’s son will not pay them the amount they demanded, Dawn has learnt.

One of the investigators of the incident linked the incident to the terror threat received by Dr Hamid Hassan a few days ago and said: “A fresh telephone call made by the terror group was received by the doctor on Thursday morning who warned him of more such attacks if their demand was not met.”

On the other side, the police have registered an FIR on the incident on the complaint of Jhangir Akhtar, the administration officer of Hassan clinic Peshawar Road saying that he along with other staff members was sitting at the clinic, when a mighty explosion occurred at about 10:15pm on Wednesday.

He said due to the explosion five windowpanes and a single door was damaged in addition to a vehicle parked in the garage.

The complainant further said the cracker was lobbed by unidentified person into the clinic; however, nobody was injured or hurt.

Dr Hamid Hassan, who is associated with Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) as a professor of surgery received a threat call from unidentified person last Friday.

The caller who identified himself as one of the members of Kaleemullah Mehsood group and demanded Rs100 million ransom and gave a 72-hour ultimatum to him.

When the superintendent of police Potohar Division Haseeb Hussain was contacted, he said a case had been registered with the police under relevant sections of the law and investigation started.

The SP said: “Police investigators went to the doctor’s clinic on Thursday and tried to have a meeting with him but he was not available.

The police will choose its lines of investigation only after having a session with the doctor.”

The SP further said nobody was taken into custody by the police in-connection with the investigation into the terrorist attack on doctor’s clinic so far.

According to the bomb disposal experts, the explosive used in the cracker was of low intensity as noting else was found from the scene of the blast except a piece of paper in which the explosive material was wrapped.

He said apparently the cracker’s attack seems to be an attempt to create panic and fear.