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Police chief of Pakistan's Sindh province suspended over bus attack

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Government of Pakistan's south Sindh province has suspended its police chief over the bus attack in the provincial capital Karachi that left 44 people killed and 11 others injured on Wednesday.

Dunya TV said that the Inspector General Police Ghulam Haider Jamali was removed from his post for negligence of his duty which resulted in a big terrorist attack in the city in the broad day light.

The attack happened when six terrorists, clad in police uniforms, stopped a passenger van carrying minority Ismaili Shia Muslims in a relatively busy neighborhood of the city, kept on firing at the people sitting inside for about 10 minutes, and successfully fled the scene.

The terrorists executed the attack successfully and the police was nowhere to be seen since the beginning to the end of the all incident.

The police only arrived at the attack scene after the terrorists fled the scene on their motorbikes.

The decision to remove the police chief was taken by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah shortly after visiting Safoora Chowrangi, the area where the attack took place.

The CM also suspended the Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) of the area where the attack took place.

He said that they will find out whether the bus had security, and if it hadn't whether the Ismaili community had asked for it or not, adding that if there is a security lapse, it will be investigated and the concerned officials will be dealt with a heavy hand.

Local media reports said that the provincial government is also likely to remove more officials from their posts following the attack.

The attack happened at about 9:30 a.m. (local time) when the militants attacked the bus carrying about 60 to 65 Ismaili people from their homes to workplace.

Hospital sources said that the killed people included 17 women and 27 men who were shot from a very close distance.

A fraction of outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Jundullah group claimed responsibility for the attack vowing more attack at minorities including Shias and Christians in the days to come.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army Chief Raheel Sharif, and other political leaders condemned the attack.

Following the incident, the Army Chief canceled his three-day scheduled visit to Sri Lanka, and reached Karachi to review the security situation in the city.

The Army Chief will also receive a briefing from Corps Commander, and Director General Rangers.

The Prime Minister also suspended all his activities and will be arriving Karachi by the evening, said the Prime Minister house.

Important decisions regarding the security situation in Karachi are likely to be made during the PM and Army Chief's visit, Urdu TV channel Dawn quoted official sources as saying. Endi