The Sindh government and law enforcement agencies had already been informed about a possible suicide attack on a high-profile personality along with the supposed date and time of the blast, Pakistan Today has learnt.
At least eight people, including a woman and her son, were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber struck at the residence of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chaudhry Aslam, who survived the attack, police officials said.
Insiders told Pakistan Today that the intelligence agencies of the country had informed the federal government that a suicide bomber may strike in Karachi on September 18 or 19 and after receiving the information, the Federal Interior Ministry wrote a letter to the Crisis Management Cell on August 27, informing the security agencies of Sindh that suicide bombers are present in the financial hub of the country.
The Sindh government was even informed that a vehicle packed with explosives would be used in the bombing and the attack would be made early morning from about 6 am to 9 am. The intelligence agencies had also told the provincial government that the militants could attack high-profile police officials.
“Five police officials, including SSP Aslam, were mentioned [to be on target of militants] in the letter provided to the Sindh government,” claimed the sources.
On September 18, a high-level meeting was convened in the Chief Minister’s House attended by the Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and SSPs took a part. A security high-alert was declared in the city after the meeting and extra law enforcement personnel were deployed at sensitive buildings in the city.
The next morning, however, as the police stepped up snap checking and patrolling in the city, a suicide bomber managed to drive an explosive-laden vehicle to the house of a security official.
Talking to Pakistan Today, South Zone DIG Commander (retd) Shaukat Ali said there was information about a possible suicide attack and steps were taken to ensure ‘foolproof security arrangements’. “It is not easy to stop a suicide bomber but we are trying our best and the personnel are putting their lives on line,” he added. “I was not expecting the militants to target my house”, Aslam said, while talking to the media after the attack.