7 killed in Karachi suicide blast, firing

By: Mansoor Khan | April 06, 2012 | The Nation

KARACHI – A suicide bomber targeted the motorcade of SSP Malir, killing four people and wounding 16 others near Malir Halt, while three policemen were killed in a drive-by shooting in PIB Colony on Thursday.According to sources, a bomber rammed an explosives-laden motorbike into a police armoured personnel carrier (APC) at Malir Halt and killed four persons including two policemen while 16 others sustained injuries and condition of four of them was stated critical. A police official, however, said a bomber blew up his suicide vest in front of the APC. Police suspect the bomber was among the dead. All of the dead were men and there were two teenagers among the wounded.SSP Malir Rao Anwar said he was the target of the blast, which tore through a busy area lined with market stalls at around 10:30 am, and said he had been threatened by militants.“I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured,” Anwar said.An armoured police vehicle and vendors’ stalls were damaged in the explosion which a police official said was a suicide attack.Anwar has been involved in a campaign against militants in Karachi.“I got several letters sent by unknown militants, the latest of them was received last month, in which they had threatened me with grave consequences if I continued to hunt their terror accomplices,” he said.“Such attacks will not deter us from our mission to keep our people safe,” he said.Anwar held Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) responsible for the attack.Anwar was also involved in last December’s raid on a self-styled seminary, where officers said they rescued 53 students, including children as young as seven chained up in the basement, who said they had been regularly beaten.Up to five kilograms of explosives were used in the device, according to a bomb disposal official. He said legs and pieces of head of the bomber were also found.The bomber struck near a bank in a garrison area of the city.Soon after the explosion, rescue teams reached the spot and started relief efforts while police and Rangers cordoned off the area.In another incident, unknown armed men riding motorbikes and two cars opened fire at a police vehicle in the PIB Colony, killing three policemen.A police vehicle was on routine patrol in PIB Colony when it came under firing by unknown assailants, critically injuring all three policemen boarding the vehicle.The injured policemen were rushed to Jinnah Hospital where they succumbed to their wounds. Those killed in the attack were identified as ASI Dhani Bux, constable Mohammad Nisar and constable Ramzan Brohi. According to the residents, after killing the cops, the gunmen opened fire at the house of a local MQM man located in the same area where the police mobile was stationed. The incident created panic in the PIB Colony as markets and other business activities were closed down. The attackers fled the scene along with the weapons of the deceased policemen. Earlier, an armoured vehicle of the police was on routine patrol when it was attacked by unknown gunmen in the Naya’abad area of Lyari. No one was injured in the attack whereas firing continued periodically and tension gripped the area after the incident.