KARACHI: At least two people were killed and more than 15 others injured when a police officer’s car and his residence were targeted with a powerful blast in Karachi’s Old Sabzimandi area, DawnNews reported on Friday night.

Police officials said SHO Mauripur Shafique Tanoli was the apparent target of the explosion which damaged the front of his house also.

SSP Karachi Chaudhry Aslam contradicted with early reports of Tanoli's death saying the SHO remained "unhurt" in the attack.

His car was completely destroyed in the explosion, which was carried out through ramming up an IED-laden motorcycle with the car, said police officials. About five kilos of explosives were used in the attack, they added.

“Two people were killed and 15 wounded. One Police officer also sustained injuries,” Pir Mohammad Khan, a senior police official told AFP.

Doctor Semi Jamali at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital confirmed that two dead bodies and 15 injured people had been admitted. “One of the injured is a policeman,” she told AFP.

Muqaddas Haider, another senior police official said it was believed that the bomb was a timed-device.

Glass windows of nearby buildings were also shattered in the blast.

The loud explosion spread fear among residents of the area as angry protesters took to the streets after the incident demanding an early arrest of the culprits.

Karachi, a city of 18 million people contributing 42 per cent of Pakistan's GDP, has been plagued by sectarian, ethnic and political violence for years.

Police are currently involved in an operation aimed at cleansing the city of terrorists and other hardcore criminals including hired killers, gun runners and drug peddlers.