Dinner plan change saved top leadership

ISLAMABAD - Special investigation team, constituted to probe the Marriott blast, reportedly presented the initial report on Monday to the Secretary Interior Kamal Shah.

Sources in the Interior Ministry said that the report suggested that RDX and aluminum powder was used in the blast.

“The report further says that due to aluminum powder, the building of the hotel caught fire which created problem in rescuing the trapped people”, sources revealed.

Meanwhile, Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said Parliamentarians and Army officials were the target of the blast as Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza had invited them in Marriott Hotel to Iftar-dinner on September 20.

He said this while talking to the media after departure of the dead body of the ambassador of the Czech Republic, who was killed in the blast.

Rehman Malik On this occasion said that the leadership narrowly escaped as the venue was changed at the eleventh hour and the decision to change the venue was taken by the Prime Minister and President themselves.

He said the intelligence agencies and forensic experts are investigating the case and the ministry would inform the people about the final outcome of the investigation report. He said that the government would keep the nation abreast of the ongoing investigations, as it is evident from the already released videotape of the incident.

“Investigations are underway and right now it is difficult to pinpoint that who is responsible for the crime. However, we have given free hand to the investigating agencies to reach the culprits”, Advisor stated.

He also said that criminals who carried out the attack could not escape from the law enforcement agencies. “Pakistan would soon be a terrorist free state,” Rehman claimed.

He further stated that some of the persons arrested from Bajaur have revealed the names of some neighboring countries but, he added, it would be unwise to blame someone without any having any solid proof.