By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI, Jan 8: An inquiry tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts issued notices on Tuesday to two leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s chief security officer for Jan 21.
The tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus Mohammad, instructed its liaison officer SSP Niaz Khoso to serve notices on Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Maj-Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed and Major (retd) Imtiaz, the chief security officer nominated by the federal government for the former prime minister, so that they could appear before the tribunal to record their statements.
The notices have been issued despite the fact that the PPP distanced itself from the tribunal at the time of its establishment by the government of then chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
The three persons summoned by the tribunal have been named by almost all the witnesses as those responsible for security arrangements on Oct 18 from the PPP side.
The tribunal was also informed on Tuesday that the security plan put in place for the Oct 18 homecoming procession of Ms Bhutto did not have provisions for alternative security arrangements in the event of a “mishap”.
“There was no provision in the security plan that in case there was any mishap and injuries on either side [of the float carrying Ms Bhutto and other PPP leaders] the security should not be left and it should be covered by other mobiles,” DSP Jam Saifullah Dharejo, who was deputed on the left side of the float, said in his testimony before the tribunal.
DSP Dharejo said that the distance between his police mobile and Ms Bhutto’s bullet-proof float ranged between eight to ten feet. He recalled that around 300 PPP volunteers had surrounded the float under the instructions of leaders Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani and others. He said he had no idea whether the volunteers had been searched for weapons.
The DSP said the first blast occurred on the left side at about 12 midnight or 12.05am which caused an injury to his head and left him stunned. The doors of his vehicle had become jammed due to the blast. He jumped out of the window and saw the injured and the dead lying on the ground.
“I went towards the front side of the float and no sooner had I reached there than I heard another blast on the left side. I sustained more injuries. I remember that somebody took me to a nearby ambulance and when I later came to I was at Aga Khan Hospital.”
Answering a question, he said that the blast had occurred at a distance of 15 to 20 feet from his vehicle at Karsaz and at that time the streetlights were on. He said that SSP Security Dr Amin Yousufzai held a meeting with the police officers who had been detailed for duty under the security plan and that he had also attended the meeting.
“What was your duty in case of any mishap? You were commanding one side of the main vehicle and, keeping in view that miscreants could take advantage of disorder, what measures had you taken after the blast?” asked the tribunal. The DSP replied that he had been seriously injured.
“Despite injuries, a police officer should have the nerve to let his subordinate take over so that the primary responsibility of security could be fulfilled. Even if your subordinate was injured, did you ensure that any other subordinate take over?” inquired the tribunal upon which the DSP conceded that he did not ask his subordinate to take over the command.
In response to a question, the police officer conceded that after he left his vehicle due to his injuries, the left side of the float became vacant and there was no security cover. However, he said that on the float’s rear side, SP Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi was present and it was his duty to evacuate Ms Bhutto in case of any emergency.
“Did you inform the SSP Security that after the first blast the left side had become uncovered and there was no security even when Ms Bhutto was present inside the float? Did you inform him that it was a serious lapse to which there was no provision in the security plan?” Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus asked the DSP who said the meeting was neither informed nor did it discuss the failure of security on the left side.
He said no departmental action was taken against any policemen. “The SSP Security appreciated our efforts and observed that we had performed our duties very well,” he added.
“Did the police department recommend your names for appreciation certificates or medals?” inquired the tribunal. The DSP said that the SSP Security informed the police officials that their names would be recommended for appreciation certificates.
VIP status
Earlier, SSP Security (Special Branch) Shahab Mazhar Bhalli informed the tribunal that according to the Blue Book the status of a VVIP was granted only to the president, the prime minister and a foreign dignitary who is a head of state.
“Under our current standard operating procedures, the status of a former prime minister is that of a VIP and accordingly Ms Bhutto was accorded the status of a VIP.”
The SSP, however, said that the inspector-general of police had the authority to enhance a person’s security personnel cover in case of a threat perception.
“The threat perception figured in many intelligence reports, so much so that it was also said that the level of the threat was same as that to the president of Pakistan. The reports indicated that Jihadhi elements, with special reference to the situation obtaining in South Waziristan and Bajaur Agency as well as the Lal Masjid incident, posed a real threat.”
SSP Bhalli claimed that no device or detector had so far been invented which could indicate the presence of a bomb or an explosive device concealed by a person unless he passed through checking points.
He said he heard the news of the blasts at his residence on television channels. He phoned one of the contacts present on the spot who informed him that people were furious against the police as it was suspected that the explosion took place in a stationary vehicle.
He deposed that Inspector Iqbal of the bomb disposal squad informed him that the blast took place somewhere between the vehicle and no crater on the ground could be seen.
Answering a question, he said that the Additional IG Special Branch, two DIGs and he had not visited the route from the airport to Bilawal House but on Oct 17, 2007 the IGP Sindh along with the Additional IG Special Branch and the CCPO visited Terminal 1 and he was also present.
He said that he was not aware if there was light at the time of the incident.
Later, the tribunal adjourned its proceedings for Jan 10.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment