KARACHI: Three held for 2002 blast

Published April 29, 2006

KARACHI, April 28: The Crime Investigation Department on Friday arrested three activists of a proscribed militant outfit believed to be responsible for the 2002 bomb blast near Area 51 in the DHA and several other acts of terrorism in different parts of the city.

Suspects, Khizar Jamal, an electrical engineer by academic qualification had a head money of Rs500,000, Sharjeel a drop-out of a private engineering university, and Mohammad Haris, also educated, were nabbed from their hideout in Bufferzone in the early hours of Friday morning by the police.

The SP Operations of the CID, Raja Umar Khattab, told Dawn that the three suspects belonging to the Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Alami were planning to target dance parties being held in certain parts of the city.

To carry out their plans, they had already penetrated such circles of youths in the DHA, and to lure young boys and girls, they themselves had organized at least two such dance parties utilizing the Harkat’s funds, the SP added.

“They are responsible for the 2002 New Year night blast near Area 51 in the DHA, 2001 garbage bin blast outside a foreign fast food chain at Sea View and a subsequent blast near the Aga Khani Jamaatkhana in Metroville, Site,” SP Khattab added.

Police also recovered three pistols and two hand grenades from their possession.