KARACHI, Dec 28: A young boy sustained injuries when some explosive device he was holding in his hand went off in the Alladin Shopping Mall Sunday evening.

The TPO of Gulshan Town, SSP Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, told Dawn that the 12-year-old victim, Shoaib sustained injuries in his right hand, thigh and a small part of abdomen.

“Shoaib is denying that he had either picked up something on the way or already carrying the explosive substance while entering the mall. However, the nature of his injuries points to a cracker having been gone off,” the TPO said.

The victim, a resident of Shah Faisal Colony, along with his three friends had come to the Alladin Park and proceeded to the adjacent shopping mall to make a call from a PCO located on its first floor. The explosion took place near the PCO.

He was first taken to a private hospital in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and then shifted to the JPMC for further treatment.