A Pakistani police officer, left, talks on the radio while cameramen flim the site of a blast in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. - Photo by AP
A police officer, left, talks on the radio while cameramen film the site of a blast in Karachi. - Photo by AP

KARACHI: Four people were killed and at least 42 others had been injured in a blast in Karachi's Federal B Area locality on Tuesday, DawnNews reported.

The blast, which took place near Federal B Area's Aisha Manzil, was heard as far as Karachi's Numaish area. The injured were shifted to hospitals and police had reached the site of the explosion that reportedly took place near a furniture market.

The bomb appeared to have been planted on a motorbike parked within the vicinity of the blast site. Police sources said that the explosion was caused by a  remote-controlled bomb.

Sources said that some of the injured are in critical condition and that one of the people who was killed was a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker.

The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack on the rally in Karachi and has warned that it will carry out more attacks on MQM workers and leaders.

The TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan speaking to Dawn.Com said that their activists had targeted the MQM workers and that the attack was a warning, stating that more attacks are likely to come after it.

He also cautioned the general public to avoid participating in MQM and Awami National Party (ANP) rallies, otherwise they would be responsible for their losses.

The blast has been strongly condemned by a number of political figures, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

The MQM's Coordination Committee announced that a day of mourning will be observed on Wednesday in the aftermath of the explosion. They said that transport and business activities will not be suspended during the day of mourning.

Tuesday's explosion took place days after a powerful blast inside an inter-city bus near Karachi’s Cantonment Railway Station killed at least six people and left at least 50 others, including women and children, injured.

Opinion

Rule by law

Rule by law

‘The rule of law’ is being weaponised, taking on whatever meaning that fits the political objectives of those invoking it.

Editorial

Isfahan strikes
Updated 20 Apr, 2024

Isfahan strikes

True de-escalation means Israel must start behaving like a normal state, not a rogue nation that threatens the entire region.
President’s speech
20 Apr, 2024

President’s speech

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari seems to have managed to hit all the right notes in his address to the joint sitting of...
Karachi terror
20 Apr, 2024

Karachi terror

IS urban terrorism returning to Karachi? Yesterday’s deplorable suicide bombing attack on a van carrying five...
X post facto
Updated 19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

Our decision-makers should realise the harm they are causing.
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...