MNA, 4 family members injured in parcel blast

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: Yaqoob Bizenjo, MNA and a leader of the Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A), and four of his family members were injured in a bomb attack on Friday afternoon.
Bizenjo and four of his family members were injured when a low-intensity bomb, concealed in a parcel sent to him, exploded at his residence at Khayaban-e-Ittehad, DHA Phase-VI in the limits of Darakhshan police station.
Investigators have said that the possibility that a terrorist organisation could be behind this act could not be ruled out as such outfits were planning to spread a wave of terror among government officials.
A homemade device with approximately 200 grams of explosive material was used to prepare the parcel bomb, which exploded as soon the parcel was opened.
Besides the MNA, his brother Sanaullah Bizenjo, his mother, his wife and his daughter Naz Bibi were also injured in the attack.
Family members and the area people immediately called in the police after the attack and the injured male members of the family were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, while female injured were shifted to Aga Khan Hospital.
The investigators have included five people including three servants of the MNA in the investigation for questioning, and claimed that they could obtain valuable information from them about the perpetuators of the crime.
Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Sarwar Commando, who is also an investigation officer of the case, told Daily Times that soon after the incident, he carried out a raided at the City Bus Stand in Yousuf Goth, Hub following a tip off, and included two transporters named Zafar and Yousuf in the investigation as well whose transport vehicle was used to shift the parcel to Karachi from Turbat.
“We have included five people in the investigation and are questioning them. They have also provided valuable information,” said the SIO.
The SIO also disclosed that according to the initial investigation, a high intensity bomb could also be used in the incident, but using a low intensity bomb suggests that the culprits just wanted to spread fear among government officials.
The officer further said that the parcel contained books and was addressed to Bizenjo that suggested that he was their target. Sources have said that the police have started tracing mobile phone calls of some of the servants of Bizenjo.
The parcel was delivered at the MNA’s residence in Turbat to his guard by an unknown postman some two days back, from where it was sent to Karachi through a coach and brought to the MNA’s residence 93/1, Lane 30, Khayaban-e-Ittehad by his servant named Arif.
It should be noted here that Bizenjo was elected as member of the National Assembly from NA-272 Mand, Balochistan from the platform of (BNP-Awami), defeating the former federal minister Zubaida Jalal.
Bizenjo while speaking to the reporters in an injured state said that when the parcel was opened, it suddenly exploded, causing injuries to him and other members of his family, however no one was seriously hurt in the blast.
Following the incident, heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and the house of the MNA.
Hospital sources have said that Bizenjo and his family members have not sustained any serious injury and received minor burns due to the explosion.
Brother of the MNA, Sanaullah was more injured as compared to other family members, but was now in a stable condition and recovering.
Bomb Disposal Squad officials said that a homemade explosive device with approximately 200 grams of local explosives along with cells and a detonator was used to prepare the parcel bomb, which exploded as soon the parcel was opened and damaged the windows and other material in the house.

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