KARACHI: At least 17 people, including women and children, were injured in an explosion in Karachi’s Mehmoodabad neighbourhood just after midnight on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

Initial reports suggest the ongoing electioneering in Mehmoodabad No.6 near Sitara Bakery was the apparent target of the unknown miscreants.

The blast spread fear among local residents which was so loud that it was heard from far distances. Nearby shops and vehicles were also damaged in the incident.

Exact nature of the blast is yet to be ascertained. However, a completely destroyed suspected motorcycle was found from the site.

DIG Police Karachi South Dr Amir Sheikh told a private TV channel that the bombing was carried out through an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which was planted in a red colour car.

Meanwhile, owner of the suspected car has been taken into police custody from the city’s Gulistan-e-Johar locality.

Sources told Dawn.com that the car owner is a clearing and forwarding agent. The car in question was parked at the bombing site for last three days, sources added.

Most of the injured were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre while rest were moved to a nearby hospital.

Police and Rangers forces have cordoned off the area and an initial probe of the incident is underway.

No group has claimed responsibility of the bombing so far. However, the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has vowed to target the secular political parties of the country, naming PPP, ANP and MQM.

Around 100 people have been killed in the Pakistani Taliban attacks on election campaign of the said parties along with few others across the country since April 11.

The historic May 11 polls will witness the first ever democratic transition of power in Pakistan.