Series of bomb attacks injures 20 in Karachi

Published November 13, 2013
Alam (war flag) can be seen through a broken wall of an Imambargah after twin bomb blasts near Pahar Ganj area in in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
Alam (war flag) can be seen through a broken wall of an Imambargah after twin bomb blasts near Pahar Ganj area in in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
A cab seen standing at the site of twin bomb blasts outside an Imambargah near Pahar Ganj area in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
A cab seen standing at the site of twin bomb blasts outside an Imambargah near Pahar Ganj area in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
Policemen seen outside an Imambargah after twin blasts near Pahar Ganj area in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online
Policemen seen outside an Imambargah after twin blasts near Pahar Ganj area in Karachi’s North Nazimabad on Wednesday. – Photo by Online

KARACHI: Three bomb and grenade attacks near Imambargahs in North Nazimabad and North Karachi on Wednesday night left about 20 people injured. The attacks sowed fear in the city on the eve of Ashura processions that have drawn tight security measures across the metropolis.

The injured included policemen, Rangers personnel and media persons.

Officials believed that the attacks took place in ‘sensitive’ areas and were aimed at creating disturbances.

Two men were wounded when a small improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Pahar Ganj area and over 15 others suffered injuries in another blast not very far away.

“The first explosion occurred at the shrine of Abul Fazal,” said DIG West Javed Alam Odho. The shrine was closed at the time of the attack. An Imambargah is located in the area.

The injured were identified as Aftab Hussain, 20, son of the shrine’s caretaker Khalid Hussain, and Naveed Mohammed, 22.

Aftab suffered multiple and serious injuries on his back, according to additional police surgeon, Dr Abdul Haq.

Bomb disposal expert Abid Farrukh said an IED — weighing 500 grams, containing ball bearings and wrapped in a shopper — had been attached to the wall of the shrine and detonated through remote control. The wall collapsed, a car was destroyed and two other vehicles were damaged.

After an hour, another blast occurred at a distance of around 50 yards from the shrine, leaving a policeman with critical head injuries. Two Rangers personnel, a policeman and some media persons and other people received minor injuries, said the DIG.

He said the second explosion took place in a heap of garbage.The injured were taken to hospital. They were identified as CNBC reporter Khizruddin, CNBC photographer Syed Shariq Hussain, Waqt TV reporter Raza Abdi, policemen Faheem Iqbal and Zahid Hameed, Mohammed Ali, Samar Zaidi, Khalid Raza, Rasheed Mehboob, Faisal Ejaz, Nadeem Qasim, Farid Qadir, Nawaz Ali, Naseem Ahmed and Danish Shabbir.

In the third incident, a grenade was hurled at a police check-post near an Imambargah in North Karachi after a Majils had ended.

According to SSP Central, Amir Farooqi, two men on a motorcycle hurled a ‘cracker resembling a tennis ball’ at the check-post, injuring policemen Mushtaq and Yusuf.

Meanwhile, taking notice of the incident, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has ordered security to be put on red-alert in the city.

Security had already been put on high alert across the country to thwart terrorist attacks during the holy month of Muharram, when Shia Muslims mourn the seventh century martyrdom of Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), along with his family members.

Shias make up around a fifth of Pakistan's predominantly Sunni Muslim population.

Police and Rangers forces were already carrying out operations against criminal and terrorist elements to curb sectarian and political killings in the port city. Karachi, a city of 18 million people which contributes 42 per cent of Pakistan's GDP, is rife with murder and kidnappings and has been plagued for years by ethnic, sectarian and political violence.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.