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| India-Pakistan |
| Nato supply convoy ambushed in Karachi |
| 2010-01-29 |
| [Dawn] A convoy of trucks carrying supplies for Nato forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan was attacked with guns and grenade on the Northern Bypass in the early hours of Thursday, leaving three people wounded. The incident caused the authorities concerned and stakeholders to review the security measures in place for the safe transportation of more than 400 consignments, which leave for the landlocked neighbouring country every month. Three trucks -- bearing registration numbers TLK-927, LSA-8417 and SI-5287 and loaded with machinery and other equipment meant for the Nato forces -- left the Karachi port in the early hours of Thursday, police said. They added that the convoy was on its way near Dalda Mor on the Northern Bypass when armed men riding two motorbikes appeared on the road and stopped the vehicles, which were already moving at a very slow speed. "One of them [the armed riders] threw a hand grenade [at the trucks] before the men travelling in the trucks get out of their vehicles," said Sub-Inspector Shahid Chaudary, SHO of the Site-B police station. "This was followed by heavy firing which remained mostly untargeted and random," he said quoting the people who were wounded in the ambush. Two people were hit by shrapnel from the hand grenade mostly in the leg while another sustained bullet wounds. "All the wounded were travelling in the same truck, while those travelling in the other two vehicles remained unhurt." All three wounded were shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi, where the condition of 36-year-old Zar Habib and 22-year-old Imran was declared stable after initial treatment. Both were hit by the shrapnel, a hospital official said. However, the official said: "26-year-old Ghani-ur-Rehman who sustained bullet wounds was operated upon. We have put him under observation and the victim seems to be doing better." The Site-B police station later registered a case (FIR No 76/2010) under Sections 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosives Act against unidentified people on the complaint of Zar Habib. Meanwhile, authorities at the central police office asked the stakeholders to review the security arrangements for the transportation of supplies to the war zone. In an hours-long meeting held later in the day, the police authorities found handling of such huge consignments a serious challenge amid violations of the defined rules by transporters supplying logistic support and food items to the forces fighting in Afghanistan. "About 50 oil tankers and more than 400 trucks leave two ports of the city for Afghanistan every month," said Waseem Ahmed, the capital city police officer (CCPO). "It was decided in a meeting held in February 2009 that the transporters would hire trained security guards to escort the convoys and also make arrangements for the security of the facilities where these consignments are kept before their transportation to Afghanistan. But unfortunately a majority of them doesn't pay heed." The Thursday meeting served as a warning to the stakeholders, he said, adding that if they did not revise the present arrangements, the police had powers to charge them under a recently promulgated law. "The Sindh Shops and Establishment (Security) Ordinance-2009, which has recently become effective, binds business concerns generating profits to make their own security arrangements," the CCPO added. "In such a situation, we want those who generate business including these transporters in this city to contribute their share and if they insist on defying the rules we now have the powers to take action against them. The transporters of [Nato] supplies to Afghanistan have been conveyed this message very loud and clear." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 we really need to get on an alternate route through the caucus region. |
| Posted by: newc 2010-01-29 09:16 |