Post-blast’ situation reviewed

Source: The news
Fire tenders reached six hours late, meeting told

Thursday, December 31, 2009
By our correspondent

Karachi

A meeting reviewing the law and order situation arising out of a bomb blast on the main Aushura procession was held at the Chief Minister House late on Tuesday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was briefed about the attack on the Muharram procession and the consequent violent reaction that led to the loss of precious lives and property.

The issue of the reported late arrival of fire tenders to extinguish the inferno at the Boulton Market also came under discussion, official sources told The News.

The meeting was followed by another meeting under the chair of Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza which was also attended by the Director-General Rangers and provincial officials at the Sindh Secretariat.

The sources said that the meeting was informed that fire tenders reached the spots around six hours late to extinguish the blaze.

The sources in the Sindh government said that security agencies had voiced concerns about a possible terrorism act during the Muharram procession and in one such report on December 24, apprehensions were expressed about a possible attack on religious places including Imambargahs.

Apprehensions about the possible terrorism act were also raised in the wake of recent killings of activists of a banned sectarian organisation in the city and the provincial government was warned that in retaliation, Muharram processions could be targeted, the official sources said.

Meanwhile, a handout issued by the Chief Minister House said that a meeting was held on the law and order under the chair of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The meeting regretted over Monday’s events and said that anti-state elements were involved in the killing of innocent people and destruction of property. The chief minister instructed the Inspector General of Police to submit a report about the bomb blast and the consequent acts of destruction to shops and other property within three days.

Shah said that Monday’s incidents caused much damage to life and property of the people.

He asked the law enforcement agencies including police and Rangers to ensure law and order situation and instructed them to strictly monitor processions/rallies being taken out in reaction to the Monday’s events to prevent another incident.

Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, IGP Sindh Baber Khattak, DG Rangers Maj-Gen Liaquat Ali, Home Secretary Arif Khan, CCPO Karachi Wasim Ahmed, AIGP Akhter Memon, DIG police South Ghulam Nabi Memon, DIG Police AD Khawaja, DCO Karachi Javed Hanif and others attended the meeting.