Karachi: Chief security officer of Bilawal House, 2 guards killed in blast

Chief security officer of Bilawal House Bilal Sheikh and his two guards were killed and seven other persons were injured Wednesday in a blast near Guru Mandar area. The blast targeted a double-cabin vehicle belonging to the security squad of Bilawal House. Chief security officer of President Zardari Bilal Sheikh and 3 guards were killed in the incident, according to the hospital sources. The vehicle was completely damaged after the blast. Six policemen and an FIA staffer were also injured in the blast. According to police sources the attackers were following the vehicle of Bilal Shiekh and blasted it when it reached Guru Mandar market. However, the exact nature of blast could not be ascertained immediately but ball bearings were found scattered near the damaged vehicle. SSP Raja Umar Khatab said there was not much traffic on the road at the time of blast. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar says slain guard Bilal Sheikh was not a government employee, but was working as one of the private security officers for Zardari. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Police said they were still investigating. President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Nawaz Sharif have condemned the attack as cowardly attack.