Three injured as bomb detonator explodes in Karachi’s ATC

KARACHI: At least three persons including a court clerk and a police official were injured when the detonator of an explosive device exploded in a Karachi anti-terrorism court.

Earlier, initial reports suggested that a hand grenade recovered from a terrorism suspect—against whom a case had been filed in the ATC for illegal possession of explosives—exploded inside the courtroom.

The incident is a rather bizarre and possibly the first-of-its-kind incident in a Pakistani courtroom.

But Dr Jameel, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South zone, later clarified that it was a detonator and not a grenade which caused the explosion.

Jameel said that the detonator, which carried a very small amount of explosive material, was packed in a glass utensil.

He said that the judge had asked for the detonator to be presented in the ATC court-III on a request by the defence counsel.

Abid Ansari, investigating officer of Sindh Police from Kalakot station, was presenting the explosive device as case property in court.

Eyewitnesses said a court clerk opened the utensil carrying the detonator which exploded inside the courtroom.

The clerk and policeman standing nearby were among those injured by the explosion, police said.

Rescue workers from the Edhi ambulance service said they had shifted three injured persons from the court to the Jinnah Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) later reached the court to carry out further investigation.

DIG Dr Jameel said that safety measures for presenting explosives and weapons in court are being reviewed following the incident.