Geo’s Hamid Mir escapes bomb placed under his car
Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: Geo’s Executive Editor and anchorperson of popular Geo TV talk-show ‘Capital Talk,’ Hamid Mir, narrowly escaped a terrorist attempt on Monday when a bomb was detected attached beneath his car, which fortunately did not explode.
“The explosive device was live and sophisticated carrying half-a-kilogram of explosive powder, enough to blow up a house,” the inspector general of police (IGP), Islamabad, told The News when asked.
The remote controlled bomb had been fixed under the front seat of Hamid’s car, probably on Monday morning when he went to the Rana Market in F-7/2 along with his driver.
He remained there for about an hour for hair-do, but his driver remained in the car, police officials, engaged in the investigation of the case, said.Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of the Special Branch, Islamabad, defused the explosive device packed in a small leather bag before it exploded.
Muhammad Ilyas, the driver of Tariq Khan, living in front ofthe residence of Hamid Mir, told The News that he noticed a mini gray bag hanging under Hamid Mir’s car parked in front of his house and informed his driver who took the car away from the house and informed Rescue-15. Consequently, the area police reached the spot with the BDS and defused the bomb.
BDS Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Riaz, who defused the explosive device, said that every wire was properly attached and when he deactivated the mechanism, the bomb was ready to blow up.
Islamabad IGP Bani Amin told The News that the explosive material was covered in tent-fabric bag, adding that two iron plates measuring 3×2 inches were fixed in a quadrangle box filled with 500 grams of explosive material. He said the professionally-prepared device was linked with radio circuit from one end and ready to be detonated from the other side. Two powerful magnets were used to attach the bag under the car, he added.
The IGP said that the type of explosive material could be determined after its laboratory test, adding that the explosive powder would be sent for chemical examination today (Tuesday). He said the kind of the explosive material could be C-4 or TNT.
Responding to a question, the Islamabad police chief said the explosive did not explode because either it was out of range of the remote or the remote control system didn’t function during the specific time period.
“The explosive device could have been be fixed at the Rana Market during the time when Hamid Mir was there but his driver claimed that he remained sitting in the car throughout the period,” Bani Amin said, adding that the investigation would be started from the Rana Market and evidence would be collected through CCTV cameras installed at various places.
The IGP said that two professional officers of SP ranks – Sajid Kiani and Capt. Ilyas – would head the police investigation team. While the Crime Investigation Department (CID) would conduct an investigation separately and provide assistance to the police investigation team. SP Special Branch and BDS In-charge Jamil Hashmi, when contacted by this correspondent to know the formation and mechanism of the device, said there was a round-shaped primer with a timer in the explosive material and the detonator was linked to remote control system attached with six mini battery cells which were wrapped in black insulation tape.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has constituted two teams – magisterial committee headed by Islamabad deputy commissioner, and police investigators with the assistance of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
During his visit to Hamid Mir’s house, Rehman Malik said the magisterial committee will conduct the fact-finding inquiry while the police will investigate the matter. He said two journalists would be included in the fact-finding inquiry committee to ensure transparency in the probe.
It merits mentioning here that after this incident, the talk of the town remained Hamid Mir’s blatant criticism of intelligence agencies’ role in Balochistan in the recent talk show of Geo TV hosted by Saleem Safi.
Mir has remained critical of the role of intelligence agencies in missing persons’ cases, and Pakistan Army; especially the recent statement by the chief of the army staff was severely criticised by the senior journalist soon after it was released by the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Hamid Mir, while talking to media persons, said that it might be a murder attempt on him but he will continue speaking the truth come what may. He said the explosive device was installed under the seat on which he sits.
Reuters adds: “I was told a few days ago that my name was mentioned in a letter written to the Interior Ministry and in that, there was a threat,” Mir told reporters.
The government had offered a reward of Rs50 million rupees for information on those responsible for the bomb, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, according to press freedom groups.AFP adds: “It’s a message to me as well as Geo and the journalist community in Pakistan,” Mir told Geo News.
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