An eye for an eye and everyone goes blind

• Taliban kill 13 policemen, injure 57 others in Karachi bombing ‘to avenge killing of comrades in Karachi, Peshawar and Swabi’
• TTP spokesperson says attacks will continue until govt reaches ceasefire agreement with militants
• Denies calling Fazlullah ‘khalifa’, army ‘frontline enemy’ in magazine interview

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bombed a police bus in Karachi, killing 13 policemen and injuring at least 57 others on Thursday in what it called was a “revenge attack” for the killings of its members in recent skirmishes with the government forces.

The explosion took place near the exit of the Razzaqabad Police Training Centre in Shah Latif Town just as a police bus carrying police commandoes was leaving for Bilawal House.

There were conflicting reports as to whether the explosion was caused by a suicide attack or a remote-controlled bomb blast.

According to initial reports, 25 to 30 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack. The intensive blast was heard in a radius of two kilometers.

According to SSP Malir Rao Anwaar, evidences indicated that a suicide bomber had rammed the explosives-laden vehicle into the police bus carrying more than 50 personnel who were on their way to discharge their duties at Bilawal House.

Security forces cordoned off the area and sealed the blast site. The dead bodies and injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

“Apparently, it was a suicide car attack as an explosive-laden car hit the police bus transporting officials,” Munir Sheikh, a senior police official said.

Another official, Farooq Awan, who heads a special investigative unit, said the bus was making a U-turn after leaving the training centre when a small bus struck it.

On the other hand, Crime Investigation Department (CID) Superintendent of Police (SP) Raja Omar Khattab, while talking to the media, stated that the explosive material was remotely detonated. He added that most of the casualties took place because of the ball bearings and the explosive material planted in the bus.

Sindh Police chief Shahid Nadeem Baloch also said that the bomb was remotely detonated.

Traffic on National Highway was suspended after the security forces closed the main artery for commuters.

TTP CALLS IT REVENGE:

The Taliban accepted responsibility for the attack on Thursday evening, calling it an act of revenge.

In a statement, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the attack was made in response of killing of the Taliban members in various areas of Karachi, Peshawar and Swabi. He said over 20 Taliban members were killed during the last one month and their bodies were dumped after ‘fake encounters’.

Shahid said the Taliban will continue their ‘defence’ against such activities till a formal ceasefire agreement is reached with the government. “It is imperative to halt such kinds of activities in order to make the talks process successful,” the TTP spokesman said.

The spokesman also said that ‘Newsweek Pakistan’ had reported out of context his interview two days ago for which an explanation has been sought from the magazine. He said Newsweek Pakistan had violated the journalistic principles by modifying a question asked in a ‘general style’.

The spokesman explained that a question was asked in a general manner; “If you want implementation of Sharia and establishment of Khilafat then do you have any person among your ranks who is capable of running the government?”

Shahid said this general question was modified and published as, “Who will be your Ameerul Momineen if Sharia was implemented.” He said the difference between the two questions was quite clear.

The spokesman further said the Pakistani media was presenting some sentences from the interview out of context. For example, he said, the argument of targeting the army and intelligence agencies was made in general circumstances. He clarified that nothing was stated in the interview about continuing these attacks.

Shahid said Mullah Fazlullah was the Ameer of the TTP but the term of ‘Khalifa’ was not used for him in the interview.

POLICE REMAIN DETERMINED:

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that the targeted operation in Karachi would continue no matter what happens. He added that the families of the deceased will be compensated with Rs 2 million each and the injured will be given Rs 0.2 million each.

“Medical treatment of the injured will be done free of cost,” the chief minister told reporters, adding that the willpower and the enthusiasm of the police have not diminished and they will continue to work with full determination.