KARACHI, Dec 4: A senior police officer has informed an inquiry tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts that Pakistan People’s Party leaders were fully satisfied with the overall security arrangements and their suggestions were incorporated in the security plan finalised by the administration three days before the arrival of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

The tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus Mohammad, resumed its proceedings on Tuesday at the Anti-Terrorism Courts complex with the testimony of the SSP Security Dr Mohammad Amin Yousufzai. Additional Advocate-General Arshad Lodhi assisted the tribunal in examining the security measures taken by the administration for the fateful day.

The SSP produced a 19-page security plan, which was prepared on Oct 15. The tribunal ordered the registrar, Zahoor Ahmed Hakro, to keep the document in safe custody, adding that no copy be given to anyone without prior permission.

The tribunal asked the SSP Security how many meetings were held to discuss and finalise the security plan about the arrival of the former prime minister, and whether representatives of political parties had attended the meetings. The police officer told the tribunal that a series of meetings were organised by the city police chief, the provincial police officer and the Sindh home secretary in which PPP representatives were invited and they attended the meetings.

He deposed before the tribunal that PPP leaders, including Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Maj-Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed, Agha Siraj Durrani, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and Dr Fahmida Mirza, attended the meetings held on different occasions. From the police side, Additional IG special branch Babar Khattak, DIG South Javed Bukhari, DIG East Sain Rakhio Mirani, DIG West Falak Khurshid, DIG Traffic Wajid Durrani and other police officers attended the meetings.

Justice Dr Ghaus inquired about the atmosphere of these meetings, whether any side showed any reservation and whether the PPP leadership forwarded any collective suggestion. Dr Yousufzai replied that both parties had agreed that arrangements should be made keeping in view the threat perception and the PPP representatives made many suggestions which were given due consideration and accepted. The PPP leaders were satisfied with the final security plan and they signed minutes of each meeting held on different occasions, he stated.

Dr Yousufzai submitted before the tribunal that the PPP leaders suggested that their volunteers would encircle the main vehicle carrying Ms Bhutto and other leaders for security. “This suggestion was also accepted with the condition that all volunteers shall be unarmed and duly identified by the relevant PPP leaders,” he said.

At the outset, the SSP Security in his statement said he was involved in the preparation of security arrangements regarding the arrival of Ms Bhutto and he had prepared a security plan for Oct 18.

He said the police had divided the security plan into various portions such as in and around the airport, the route leading to the public meeting place and at the venue. The arrangements were designed to be supervised by the SPs in various sectors, and the respective DIGs of zones were made overall supervisors in their respective areas. He claimed that the security plan, which he issued on Oct 15, was comprehensive.

After his statement, Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus reserved further testimony of the witness and ordered that he be called for cross-examination and further statement on a subsequent date.

The tribunal also ordered SSP Niaz Ahmed Khoso, working with the tribunal as a liaison officer, to attend each hearing and ensure that the relevant witnesses depose before the tribunal.

The tribunal adjourned its proceedings till Dec 11.

More than 140 people were killed and over 500 others wounded in the midnight blasts in the PPP rally organised to welcome former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on her Oct 18 homecoming.

The Sindh government appointed a tribunal on Oct 31 with terms of reference including: to investigate and ascertain the circumstances and causes leading to the twin blasts in the PPP rally near Karsaz; to examine the security arrangements made by the administration and organisers; to find out negligence and lapse on part of law-enforcement agencies as well as organisers of the rally; to fix the responsibility against the persons/groups involved in the incident and to suggest effective measures to be taken with a view to preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future.