RAWALPINDI: An explosive device damaged the house of a trader in Mazharabad locality of Ratta Amral early Monday.
However, nobody was injured in the low-intensity explosion outside the residence of Muhibullah Khan, a native of Bajaur Agency.
“After returning from Fajr prayers, I was reciting the holy Quran when the explosion rocked my house,” Mr Khan told Dawn.
He said though none of the inmates was injured, the outer gate and windowpanes of the house were damaged.
He claimed that he had been receiving threats from unknown people who had also demanded money.
“I received an anonymous call on my mobile phone on March 19 and the caller demanded money. But he did not say where and how I should deliver him the amount.”
He said he did not take the threat seriously.
Mr Khan added that he did not see the explosive device while returning home nor notice any suspicious person outside.
When contacted, Raja Taifoor, the deputy superintendent of police (city), told Dawn that Mr Khan had been receiving threats after he started pursuing a triple murder case.
Three people, including two brothers, were killed and three others injured by gunmen in Bara Market at Raja Bazaar on December 13, 2013. The deceased also belonged to Bajaur Agency. Being the general secretary of the market union, Mr Khan was pursuing the murder case, said the DSP.
“The motive behind the explosion was only to terrorise the family. If their motive was to kill him, they would have shot him dead,” the DSP said.
On December 1, 2013, an explosive device exploded outside a businessman’s house in Shakrial.
The explosive device was planted outside the house of Sher Wali Khan. who belonged to Mohmand Agency.
Initially, the police assumed that it was a firecracker explosion but later said it was caused by a low intensity explosive.
On February 13, 2014, an explosion also occurred outside the residence of a former attorney general in the Civil Lines area.
The explosion created panic as the Punjab House and residences of the district administration and police officers were closeby.
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