Tragedy unfolds as terror strikes Shah Noorani shrine

Published November 13, 2016
A man grieves after identifying the body of a relative. ─ Reuters
A man grieves after identifying the body of a relative. ─ Reuters
Volunteers arrange bodies of the victims of shrine bomb blast at a morgue in Karachi. ─ AP
Volunteers arrange bodies of the victims of shrine bomb blast at a morgue in Karachi. ─ AP
Devotees take shelter after a suicide bomb attack near the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Devotees take shelter after a suicide bomb attack near the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
A man carries a boy injured after a bomb blast at a hospital in the Hub district. ─ AFP
A man carries a boy injured after a bomb blast at a hospital in the Hub district. ─ AFP
Devotees board a jeep on their return home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani after the bomb blast. ─ AFP
Devotees board a jeep on their return home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani after the bomb blast. ─ AFP
Pakistani rescue workers and volunteers unload an injured victim of bomb blast at a Sufi shrine. ─ AP
Pakistani rescue workers and volunteers unload an injured victim of bomb blast at a Sufi shrine. ─ AP
Rescuers transport an injured person to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
Rescuers transport an injured person to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
Women talk on phones while gathering outside of a mortuary in Karachi. ─ AFP
Women talk on phones while gathering outside of a mortuary in Karachi. ─ AFP
An injured boy victim of the bomb blast at a Sufi shrine is treated at a local hospital in Hub. ─ AP
An injured boy victim of the bomb blast at a Sufi shrine is treated at a local hospital in Hub. ─ AP
Pakistani rangers look at the site of the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Pakistani rangers look at the site of the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Pakistani commuters ride towards the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Pakistani commuters ride towards the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
A Pakistani camera man (C) takes video of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
A Pakistani camera man (C) takes video of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
Devotees walk back home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani following the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Devotees walk back home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani following the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
A Pakistan Army soldier takes pictures of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
A Pakistan Army soldier takes pictures of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
Rangers gather outside the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Rangers gather outside the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Women gather around the coffins of the victims of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Women gather around the coffins of the victims of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Women mourn for their family members. ─ AP
Women mourn for their family members. ─ AP
Rangers stand guard in the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Rangers stand guard in the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
People head back home following the bomb blast. ─ AP
People head back home following the bomb blast. ─ AP
Pakistani Army troops and rescue workers examine the site of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Pakistani Army troops and rescue workers examine the site of the bomb blast. ─ AP

At least 52 people were killed and 102 were injured on Saturday evening in a bombing at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district of Balochistan.

The explosion took place at the spot where the dhamaal (Sufi ritual) was being performed, within the premises of the shrine. At the time of the blast, there were at least 500 people gathered at the spot to view the performance.

The shrine is frequented by a large number of devotees on Friday, and is visited by people from across the country. Iranian nationals also frequent the shrine. It is approximately 150 kilometres from Karachi.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...