Karachi: The Taliban used about 200 kg of explosives for the suicide attack that killed Chaudhry Aslam, one of Pakistan`s most daring counter-terror officials known for his crackdown on the outlawed militant group.
An explosives-laden pickup truck was used to target CID officer Aslam`s motorcade in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi yesterday. Aslam and two more policemen were killed instantly.
DIG Zafar Bukhari told the media that around 200 kg of explosives were used in the suicide attack. The blast was so powerful that wreckage from Aslam`s vehicle was found 20 metres from the spot of the blast.
Aslam was riding in an armoured vehicle but it was designed to withstand a blast using only 10 kg of explosives.
The explosives were packed into blue plastic cans kept in the truck. Pieces of the truck and parts of the plastic cans were found at the site, officials said.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan yesterday claimed the attack that killed Aslam, who had fearlessly hunted members of the banned group in Karachi despite at least three attacks on him.
Shortly after the attack, Sajjad Mohmand, the Taliban spokesman in Mohmand tribal region, told reporters that his group carried out the "successful" attack to avenge the killing of several Taliban fighters by police.
A suicide attack on Aslam`s home in Karachi in 2011 had killed eight persons though he escaped unhurt.
The Senate or upper house of parliament today passed a resolution in recognition of Aslam`s services. Tributes, condemnations and condolence messages poured in from senior politicians and officials.
Aslam had been receiving threats from the Taliban for a long time. After the 2011 attack on his home, he made a defiant appearance before the media and said: "I will give my life but I won`t bow to terrorists."
