Rs50,000 for a deadly blast

Pakistani police and rescue workers at the scene of a car bomb blast in Faisalabad on March 8.–AFP Photo FAISALABAD, March 27: One of the suspects of the March 8 suicide car bombing was promised Rs50,000 for the `successful` execution of the blast, and he was paid Rs20,000 in advance by the mastermind, sources close to the investigation told Dawn on Sunday. The blast in Faisalabad left 26 people dead and more than 100 injured. Security agencies are interrogating Usman Ghani, alias Abu Hamza, of Kabirwala, Khanewal, for his alleged role in the car bombing. Ghani says he along with Qari Imran, Akram, alias Tipu, Sadiq, alias Zeeshan, Ahsan, alias Asim, and Khalid Habib had hatched the plan to target the security agency office in Faisalabad. According to the suspect, Abid and Salahuddin, both from Karachi, were also part of the plan. Ghani was arrested near Gumti, Rail Bazaar by a traffic police official just a few minutes after the blast and police seized an antenna-fitted remote control, an ID card and five SIMS from him. According to sources, Ghani told investigators that the vehicle (Suzuki Mehran) used in the blast was delivered to him by a man from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near Malho Morr on March 4. The vehicle was filled with explosives at a kinoo orchard of Zahid, a friend of Ghani, at Pull Bagar, Kabirwala. According to sources, Ghani, Sadiq and Ahsan stayed at a seminary in Ghulam Muhammadabad on arrival in Faisalabad on March 7. They had also stayed with some Qari Khalil in Jhang on March 4. He said he along with Sadiq and Ahsan had brought the explosive-laden vehicle to a workshop near the Faisalabad commissioner office at 4am on March 8. In Faisalabad, the three accused used a bicycle to get information about the offices of the secret intelligence agency. Ghani and Khalid manned Chenab Chowk and Asim and Sadiq a crossing near the District Headquarters Hospital only to stop the suicide bomber from fleeing. Asif, of Waziristan, took the vehicle to the target for bombing. Sources said that first Ghani wept when he learnt about the death toll and miseries of the victims and their families. However, now he seems satisfied with his act as he says that he had carried out the attack as Blackwater was being facilitated in Pakistan by the security agency. He said the mastermind of the blast, Khalid Habib (who is from Faisalabad), had promised him Rs50,000 for the blast. He was paid Rs20,000 in advance, of that he had spent Rs5,000 while the remaining money was with Khalid. An under matriculate, Ghani learnt the holy Quran by heart from a Karachi seminary. One Abdullah Shah had sent him to Afghanistan in 2007 for training in militancy. He stayed there for one-and-a-half months. After returning from Afghanistan, Ghani joined `Alfurqan` headed by Moulvi Jabbar. The organisation was an offshoot of Tehrik-i-Jihade Islamia and Al-Khalid. Ghani says the outfit was involved in terrorism activities. Ghani says all those involved in the bombing had planned to meet in Jhang after the bombing. However, in case of any problem, they were to meet in Karachi. Sources said the militants had placed the explosives into the CNG cylinder and ball bearings into the door of the vehicle.