‘No firing after blasts on Oct 18 PPP rally’
KARACHI: Inspector Mahar Ali, in-charge of the Sindh police forensic science laboratory, belied reports of firing taking place after October 18’s twin blasts during a PPP rally held to welcome Benazir Bhutto.
Claiming to be an expert at fire arms and deposing as a prosecution witness before the tribunal, he stated that he examined seven vehicles that were damaged during the incident. They included the custom-built bullet-proof float for Bhutto, three police mobiles and three private vehicles.
He confirmed that the blast took place on the left flank of the rally, and that the main float had more than 250 pellet marks on it. Some of the pellets pierced the metal body, and most others either got stuck to the body or bounced off after hitting the armor, he deposed.
The tribunal adjourned till February 28, in anticipation of orders from the High Court of Sindh (SHC) on a petition filed by PPP leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah, challenging the tribunal.
The PPP had rejected the tribunal, alleging that the head of the tribunal is prejudiced and had given many decisions against PPP leaders while heading the Ehtesab bench of the SHC (now Accountability Courts).
The PPP challenged the alleged coercive methods adopted by the tribunal to procure the attendance of PPP leaders, including Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani and Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and the worker who drove the main float on the day of the incident.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/24/2008
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