Security forces have arrested nine suspects, including a policeman and his brother, allegedly linked with the suicide bomb blast on Wednesday night at the Clifton beach and shifted them to an undisclosed location for further interrogation, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that police have tracked the complete information of the vehicle that exploded in the late night blast. The 2004 model Suzuki Bolan (high-roof) bearing number plate CM-5294, was registered on the name of Maqbool Ahmed Khokhar, a resident of Khokhar Mohalla in Hyderabad. The vehicle’s engine number was 869575 and chassis number 753078. The security forces raided the house Khokhar and arrested him along with his son Bilal. After interrogation, it was learnt that the suspect had purchased the vehicle around eight years ago and sold it to a person named Shah Meer.
The law enforcers then launched another raid in Hyderabad and arrested Meer, who informed police that Bashir Durrani owned the vehicle.
Police then arrested Durrani from the Qasimabad area of Hyderabad. The security personnel were told that he had sold the vehicle to someone named Sameer. The police then arrested Sameer, who during interrogation said that the vehicle was sold to a resident of Karachi. Moreover, sources privy to the investigation told Pakistan Today that two more suspects were arrested from the North Nazimabad area and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. Both suspects were said to have close links with militants and were involved in the blast near a popular restaurant. “We have obtained important information and clues from the arrested people who are being further interrogated,” the sources said. “More arrests are likely to be made in a day or two.”
They said that one of the suspects arrested is a brother of a policeman. “The police officer has also been arrested and is being interrogated.” The sources claimed that the terrorists wanted to attack a high-value target. “Two of the assailants, including a woman, might be foreigners.” The Bomb Disposal Squad has provided some important clues about the explosives and other materials that were present on the crime scene, they claimed. “We have also arrested two people involved in selling and purchasing the material, which is a big achievement.”
The security forces have also obtained finger prints, pictures and samples for DNA tests from the terrorists’ bodies that were found on the spot to identify the people. Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of two policemen who died in the blast were offered at the Garden police headquarters, where Sindh Home Minister Manzor Wasan among other officials of the police department was also present. After offering the prayers, Wasan talking to the media said that security forces have arrested several people who are being interrogated and “the media will be briefed about the case after completion of interrogation.”