KARACHI: Three Rangers soldiers and a passer-by were wounded in another improvised explosive device (IED) attack on the paramilitary force’s checkpoint in the Korangi Crossing area on Friday.

It was a third such IED attack targeting the paramilitary force’s checkpoints in as many city localities in less than a week.

Landhi SP Afnan Amin said that unidentified assailants riding a motorbike threw an IED at the Rangers’ checkpoint in the afternoon causing a low-intensity explosion and damaging a wall of the checkpoint.

He said that three Rangers personnel suffered wounds due to the explosion and they were immediately moved to the nearby Indus Hospital for treatment.

The SP said that the condition of one of them was said to be critical.

He was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where doctors said he had suffered wounds in the neck.

“The patient is fully conscious. He has been shifted to the neurosurgery ward for further treatment,” said Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the JPMC’s emergency department.

She said that a fruit vendor, identified as Ashraf, was also brought to the JPMC for treatment. “He sustained minor injuries and was discharged after initial medical treatment,” she added.

Zaman Town SHO Khalid Abbasi said that the around 400-500 grams of explosives was used in the IED.

After the incident, the Rangers’ director general, Major General Bilal Akbar, visited the spot and told the media that it would be premature to blame any particular group for the latest IED attack.

He said that three groups were allegedly involved in some recent attacks on Rangers and police in the metropolis.

“These groups consist of [militants] belonging to ethnic, political and banned outfits,” he said, without elaborating. “Four suspects have been detained by Rangers and police.” He said that Friday’s attack apparently looked like the earlier attacks on Rangers checkpoints.

Earlier on March 13, two Rangers checkpoints near Esa Nagri and Moti Mahal in Karachi’s East district were targeted by motorcyclists with IEDs. No one got injured in the attacks.

CM orders IGP to arrest culprits

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the attack on the Rangers and directed the Inspector General of Sindh Police to submit a detailed report of the incident.

He said that remaining terrorists in the city were making unsuccessful attempts to harass the people and our brave soldiers.

“Our forces have broken their back and are committed to fighting against them with full vigour as our people are united against them,” he said, adding that they wanted to destabilise the country in general and create law and order situation in Karachi in particular.

He directed the IGP to mobilise his teams and arrest the culprits.

The CM also expressed his sympathies for the wounded Rangers soldiers.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016