KARACHI: Unknown persons opened fire on a restaurant in Orangi Town on Saturday and threw a grenade that failed to explode, police said.

SSP-West Tariq Illahi Mastoi said four suspects riding two motorcycles threw the grenade on ‘Muhammadi Nihari’ and fired shots on the eatery and fled.

Following the incident, the police called the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) who took the grenade into custody.

SSP Mastoi, who visited the spot and met with the restaurant owner Momin Shah and area traders, told Dawn that the incident appeared to be motivated by an extortion demand. However, he said that the suspects were just ‘local criminals’ who were not part of any major gang.

The SSP said an investigation had been launched after registration of an FIR under terrorism and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code on complaint of victim Shah.

The victim told the police that he is president of Union Council-6 Mominabad and belongs to the Awami National Party and runs the food business.

He said he was sleeping at his home when he heard the firing. As he checked from the window, he saw four persons on two motorcycles firing and then fleeing from the spot. When he came to the restaurant, he found spent bullet casings and one hand grenade on the floor alongside the shutters of the eatery.

The SSP said the BDS staff defused the grenade in order to prevent it from exploding while three spent bullet casing fired from .30 bore pistol were also recovered.

Furthermore, efforts were under way to collect footage and other evidence/clues about the suspects, the officer added.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024