Man remanded to prison over bomb threat to US consulate in Karachi

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Monday sent a man to prison on judicial remand in a case related to an alleged threat to bomb the US Consulate General in Karachi.

The suspect, identified as Sharjeel Akbar, was arrested on Sunday and booked in a case registered under Sections 506-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with criminal intimidation, and 504, concerning intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. The case was also registered under Section 25-D of the Telegraph Act, which covers the penalty for causing annoyance.

According to the first information report lodged at the Docks police station, the complaint was filed by an inspector of the Foreign Security Cell who said he was posted at the US consulate. He stated that on April 15, staff at the consulate informed him that they had received a threatening phone call from a man who identified himself as Sharjeel Akbar and claimed that he had planted a bomb near the mission.

The complainant said he immediately informed his superiors after learning of the call. He added that he, along with the bomb disposal unit, carried out a search of the surrounding area for explosives, but nothing was found near the consulate.

When the suspect was produced before Judicial Magistrate (West) Inamullah Phulpoto on Monday, the investigating officer told the court that Sharjeel Akbar had been arrested from West Wharf Road on Sunday during a search operation.

The investigating officer requested the court to hand the suspect over to police on a 14-day physical remand, saying further interrogation was required and that police also wanted to examine his criminal record.

However, the court did not grant the request for police custody. Instead, the magistrate remanded the suspect to judicial custody and directed the investigating officer to submit the challan within the stipulated period.

Case details

The case centres on an alleged telephonic threat received by the US consulate’s staff and the subsequent police response. The FIR says the caller claimed to have planted a bomb near the consulate, prompting an immediate search by security personnel and the bomb disposal unit.

No explosives were found during that search, according to the complaint placed before police.

The matter is now proceeding under judicial remand after the suspect’s arrest and appearance before the court in Karachi.