The absence of Bahadurabad police station staff from duty on Tuesday frustrated all attempts of PPP leaders to register first information report of the suicide attack in the procession of Benazir Bhutto on the night of October 18/19 in Karachi.
PPP leaders Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Shama Mithani, and Dr Fehmida Mirza, along with their party workers went to Bhadurabad PS at about 1:30 pm and waited there till 2 pm for the SHO to come to his office. He was reported to have gone to attend court proceedings in some case.
Finding the wait unproductive and the absence of the staff to register FIR and to supply copies of report frustrating, the agitated PPP leaders left the police station.
A few police personnel in plainclothes and a few in uniform when pressed to accept the report and acknowledge attendance of the complainants expressed inability to accommodate the request. Addressing the media at the gate of the police station, Qaim said, "It is deplorable that the gory October 18 incident in which 158 people died and more than 158 were injured is being taken by the government lightly and in an irresponsible manner."
He said that the police station had refused to acknowledge the letter signed by Benazir Bhutto when it was delivered to the SHO on October 18, and had registered a report on his own. The SHO, instead of registering FIR of the victims, had on the contrary, lodged a report on behalf of the government. Later, the SHO maintained that two FIRs on the same incident could not be registered.
Qaim Ali Shah said that this situation forced the party to approach the District and Sessions Judge, East. "Despite directives from the court, the SHO is not available to receive our complaint." Earlier, advocate Shahadat Awan briefed the media on the situation and said that the attitude of the SHO amounted to contempt of court.