Karachi: Blast near Numaish Chowrangi

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/ A blast occurred near Numaish Chowrangi Tuesday morning when the city is already on high alert on the occasion of chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions, Local TV reported. According to initial reports, no casualty occurred in the explosion while security forces have cordoned off the area to ascertain details about the nature of the blast. Bomb disposal squad also reached the spot immediately after the blast was reported. Miscellaneous reports suggested that it was a tyre blast but on the contrary, police told that the bomb was triggered remotely. However, further details are yet be ascertained. With cell phones off the grid and pillion riding on motorcycles banned, the government has put in place strict security measures for the chehlum today. Under the comprehensive security plan, 10,000 police and Rangers personnel have been deployed for security of the main mourning procession in Karachi. The procession route would be monitored through aerial surveillance and through a network of 150 closed-circuit television cameras. Cellular phone services in major cities of the province, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Khairpur was suspended from 7am till 10pm. The government has also barred pillion riding for a day across the province. The ban would remain in place from Monday midnight till Tuesday midnight. All weapon carrying permits have also been suspended for 10 days. Fourteen mourning processions scheduled in Karachi have been declared highly sensitive. Additional Chief Secretary Home Mumtaz Ali Shah said troops would be deployed at all sensitive positions to avoid any untoward incidents. Most parts of Rawalpindi have been sealed for fear of untoward incidents. Cellular services will be suspended in various cities, with the government taking strict measures to ensure security for the mourners. Thousands of police personnel and Rangers have also been deployed in the city, with entry and exit point of the troubled Raja Bazar sealed. Similarly, strict security arrangements have been made in other major cities including Lahore, Peshawar Multan and tribal agencies.