A policeman in a bullet-proof vest stands guard at the entrance to Qadam Gah-i-Maula Ali in Hyderabab. —APP Photo

HYDERABAD Security agencies combed area in and around MQM zonal office, Qadam Gah-i-Maula Ali, shrine of Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jilani and Pucca Qilla and subjected people on the streets to body searches after receiving information that a suicide bomber would hit the area on Tuesday.

'Basically, it was communicated to our senior officials that a suicide bomber will strike the fort area at around 5pm. So we had to alert everyone and scan the whole area,' a police official told Dawn on phone.
 
He said the information was communicated by provincial authorities and said he was not sure if it came from police's own network or some secret agency.

Qadam Gah Maula Ali, MQM's zonal office and Pucca Qila are located within a radius of around 500 to 600 metres. Qadam Gah and shrine of Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah are visited by hundreds of people belonging to Sunni and Shia communities from all over the country and subcontinent.

MQM zonal office is at a walking distance from Qadam Gah on Bhai Khan Ji Chari, which has Holmstead hall on one side and Resham Bazaar on the other.

Police had alerted government hospitals and ambulances remained at standby.

Officials of Bomb Disposal Squad aided by police and Rangers started searches from Qadam Gah and all roads leading to Qadam Gah were closed with barricades.

Policemen wearing bullet proof vests were deployed at the entry and exit points of Qadam Gah, subjecting people to body search.

Police officials along with MQM's MPA Sohail Yusuf and some members of MQM zonal committee visited the area and met representatives of bazaars' unions.

MQM has already adopted several security measures on their own since a sudden increase in incidents of suicide bombings in the country.

'We were told by high-ups to enhance security measures between 5pm and 6pm over reports that a suicide bomber has arrived in Hyderabad. We were specifically told that he (suicide bomber) will hit his target in Pucca Qilla area or its vicinity,' said a police official.

'We didn't get any information. It's basically police authorities who had some information and our party representatives joined them during the search to give a sense of security to people,' said an MQM activist.

Hyderabad DPO Javed Alam Odho said that 'though the information was vague but we did respond to it in an effective manner and it also provided us an opportunity to check our preparedness.'