KARACHI: A private security guard stationed at main entrance of a local television channel, Aaj TV’s office was injured in a hand grenade blast in Karachi, DawnNews reported.

Initial reports suggest the office of the local media organisation located in Gurumandir neighbourhood was the apparent target of the unidentified attackers.

The attackers fled the scene after hurling the grenade.

Police and security agencies have launched an initial probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, an undetonated hand grenade was recovered from outside the building of the local daily Nawa-i-Waqt and unknown attackers shot gunfire on a Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vehicle of AbTak TV in the port city. No one was injured in the attack.

No one has claimed responsibility of the attacks as yet, however, media houses in Pakistan specially in Karachi are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. At least three members of staff belonging to Express News were killed in a similar attack last month as well.

Media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last month that Pakistan was among the world's five deadliest countries for the media in its annual round-up of press freedom violations.

Rangers are currently taking part in a joint operation with police in Karachi aimed at cleansing the city of terrorists and other hardcore criminals including hired killers, gun runners and drug peddlers.

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

– This is a developing story and will be updated ad reports come in