By By Salis bin Perwaiz
The team probing July 7 serial blasts has expanded the ambit of its investigation by reviewing the modus operandi of various terrorist groups previously involved in such activities. This, they believe, will help trace the culprits behind the July 7 blasts, said sources close to the investigation process.
They also believe that the explosions were directed at stiring ethnic violence in Karachi. In this regard, the sketch of a suspect who had parked the explosive device-fitted car in Hasrat Mohani Colony has been prepared.
According to intelligence sources, following the registration of FIRs in July 7 serial blasts, the team probing the events has expanded the scope of investigation in the wake of statements of the eyewitnesses who had seen the terrorists involved in the serial blasts. The most effective statement was that of Mohammed Aleem, a resident of Hasrat Mohani Colony (B-10), which was pivotal in preparing the sketch of the suspected terrorist who had parked the device-fitted car in front of his house.
Aleem stated that he saw a car (AEE-937) being parked outside his house in the evening by an unidentified man wearing a “Sindhi cap.”
After around 30 minutes, an explosion occurred in the said car as a result of which his nephews Rizwan and Irfan, and his brother Mohammed Abdul Azeem sustained injuries. Besides, Amjad, Imran, Gulzar, Saifullah, Noor Mohammed, Abid, Abdul Akber, Maqsood Ahmed, Noor Ahmed were also wounded in the incident, while three motorcycles (KBP-7382, Vespa LHV-3102 and Suzuki KG-4973) and the house of Aleem were damaged in the incident. An FIR to this effect was lodged at the Pak Colony police station.
Another eyewitness, Shah Zaman, also a resident of Hasrat Mohani Colony (D-424), said that upon hearing the blast bang he came out to look at the affected place, when two persons riding a motorcycle threw some explosive substance due to which his three sisters and he himself got injured. On his complaint, an FIR was lodged at the Pak Colony police station.
The car blast suspect was said to be about 42 years of age with normal built, 5 feet and 7 inches tall, with white hair, whitish complexion, black eyes and having “smallpox marks” on his face.
The material used in these home-made devices contained silver powder and ammonium nitrate which does not cause fire but only explodes. Regarding Hasrat Mohani car blast, no time device was installed. The terrorists, it is believed, had the expertise to make a bomb using acid-filled detonators that do not need proper timers. The car used in Hasrat Mohani incident was stolen from Gulberg area a day before from outside a marriage lawn and the criminals had tampered with its number plate.
According to intelligence sources, the investigators are probing the blasts with two different angles. One explores the possibility of it being an act of militants. Investigators are matching the explosive material used on July 7 and reviewing the modus operandi with various groups involved in such activities in the past.
The probing team also suspects Jundullah, United Muslim Army and some other disbanded outfits.
It may be recalled that, in the year 2003-04, terrorists belonging to a militant organisation had rocked Karachi with blasts at petrol pumps across the city. After investigations the police had arrested Naeem alias Chooha, Mustafa, Zafar Iqbal, Sameer and Uzair who had also worked with Sheikh Omer. Their group was popularly known as United Muslim Army.
Naeem alias Chooha is an expert in making bombs. He was arrested in India a few years ago, however, he was later released on bail. Most of these suspects were expelled from various militant outfits and later they launched their own group with Zafar Iqbal as their Ameer and Mustafa their commander.
There was a suspicion that some of these suspects might be involved in the July 7 blasts, however, the factual position was yet to be ascertained.