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Terrorism expert escapes bomb attack

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: Former CID SSP and Lyari Town SSP Raja Umer Khattab narrowly escaped but with neck injuries a bicycle bomb that went off near Saddar police station on the main artery of Shahrah-e-Faisal on Saturday. The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) was behind the target, CID sources told Daily Times.

Almost two kilogrammes of the C-4 explosive packed with half a kilogramme of pellets and nuts were planted on a bicycle, said the Bomb Disposal Squad’s (BDS) Munir Sheikh, adding that it had a range of up to 2km. The bomb was remote-controlled and locally made; it was planted at the chain cover. The explosion took place outside Khattab’s residence in Saddar Police Lines at around 11:36 a.m. when he was on his way to office.

Along with Khattab, who had to be operated on at the Aga Khan Hospital, a pedestrian identified as Jut Line resident Shahid Rehmat, almost 30, was also injured. They were rushed to the nearby Jinnah hospital by Khattab’s squad in a police mobile unit. Almost five vehicles, including Khattab’s jeep, were damaged.

Khattab has been on the target list of several organizations because of the role he has played in different security operations. He spent more than five years in the Police Intelligence Department and was active in operations against banned organizations, before becoming TPO Lyari Town, notorious for its gang wars.

Sources claimed that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has been active with the support of the Taliban and al Qaeda. Personnel from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were killed by the Taliban within the jurisdiction of Preedy police station earlier on. CID SSP Fayyaz Khan was unsuccessfully targeted by the LJ twice – once with a remote-controlled bicycle bomb and once with a fruit pushcart. Arrested LJ men revealed this in interrogations.

The explosion damaged the windows of the nearby FTC building as well. The bicycle was completely damaged and its parts were as far away as the petrol pump. Almost all the bicycle parts have been found except for its chain. The blast left a 2 by 4 feet wide and one foot deep crater.

Children playing football nearby were fortunately not injured. “It is the kindness of God who saved everyone,” said Saleem, a mechanic who was talking to the owner on the phone when it happened. He said that his ears were still ringing.

Three more people, including a 10-year-old child, in a Mazda wagon parked close to the bicycle also survived. The wagon’s owner Siddiq said that as it was a day off, he had come to the area for repairs. He said that the bicycle was parked there almost ten minutes before the explosion.

Khattab’s brother Raja Ameer Hamza told Daily Times that he had been operated on and was out of danger. No FIR was registered when this report was filed. According to Saddar SHO Iqbal, an FIR would be registered when Khattab is able to record his statement.

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