.:: SAMAA - 30 killed, 161 injured in Karachi blasts

Staff Report

KARACHI: At least 30 people have been killed and 161 were injured in two blasts in Karachi Friday. The blasts occurred on the day Chelum of Imama Hussain (AS) was observed across the world, including Pakistan. The funeral prayers of 13 people will be offered at Malir RCD ground Saturday morning.

The first suicide bomb blast occurred near the FTC building at 3:03 pm Friday and a bus carrying mourners to the Chelum procession was targeted. At least 14 people were killed in the blast. The second blast occurred outside Jinnah Hospital emergency ward that was overflowing with people who came to either look for their loved ones or were helping in transferring the injured and donating blood besides security officials. At least 16 people were killed in the incident.

A third explosive device was discovered before it exploded in Jinnah Hospital.

Jaffria Alliance and other political organizations have called a strike Saturday, which is also supported by Karachi Transporters Ittehad.

EXPLOSION AT FTC

A motorcycle rider carried the bomb who collided the motorbike with a bus of 52-A route, carrying 30 to 40 mourners to the Chehlum procession. Broken parts of the motorcycle have been found on the site of the blast.

The blast took place despite tight security measured to prevent any such incident on Imam Hussain’s Chelum.

It was confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack. The bomb disposal squad team confirmed that the suicide jacket contained 15-20 kg of explosive material.

At least 14 persons are confirmed dead so far. More than 50 people, including children, were injured in the blast.

Bomb disposal Squad leader Munir said that a body has been found from the blast scene that is suspected to be of the suicide attacker.

Injured were taken to the Civil Hospital and Jinnah Hospital through the Chhipa and Edhi ambulances.

CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed said that the blast had nothing to do with the Chehlum procession. He asked the mourners to continue the procession.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has condemned the blast and has appealed to the people to donate blood.

The bodies that reached JPMC are identified as Talah Iqbal, Hanif Zahid, Yasir Zahid, Hasan Fasih, Ahmed Saeed, Najam Mohammad Hussain, Tauqeer Zamir, Shahid Rajab, Zamir, Ali Ishtiaq and the names of two more are unknown.

City Nazim Karachi, Mustafa Kamal said that this attack is conducted by enemies of humanity.

"The people of Karachi should not let these enemies get to them," he said.

He also said that people can take the injured to Liaquat Hospital and the Aga Khan Hospital if they are not satisfied with the facilities of the government hospitals. They have formed an EDO team through which the expenses of the treatment will be borne by the city district government.

People from the procession have come to the blast site where they were chanting slogans against the police and the city district government.

MQM member Farooq Sattar said that he condemns the blast.

"It is an act of savagery and barbarism. They are trying to ruin the peace of the city. The different religious political leaders and Altaf Bhai have asked the people of Karachi to control their anger and sorrow and not react immediately. These attacks are a challenge to our solidarity and tolerance. We should be united and calm. We pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives. We should curb our anger. There will be other times to express our passion. If citizens are calm, alert and report to the government, we can help curb these terrorists."

He also said that the Jundullah group has admitted to have carried out the previous attack. Those responsible for this attack will also be identified.

BLAST AT JINNAH HOSPITAL

The second bomb blast occurred outside Jinnah Hospital Karachi.

The blast killed 16 and injured 22 others.

The blast occurred outside the OPD ward and near the Accident and Emergency Ward of the JPMC in the motorcycle parking. The staff of the emergency ward reportedly left the hospital.

Ten-year-old Meena, an eyewitness of the blast, said that the bomb was planted in a TV which was put on a motorcycle. The terrorist who did the attack ran and hid inside a washroom. It is being said that the blast was a remote-controlled one.

MQM announces three days of mourning.

Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah said that the treatment of the injured will be done for free.

An eye-witness said, "there were no rangers or police stationed outside the hospital when the first blast happened. People were on their own and were suffering alone."

Deputy Speaker Assembly Shehla Raza said that these anti-state elements want to divide the nation. We should not let them do so and stand united.

"I was satisfied with the arrangements of the provincial government and the city government. They made sure the attacker does not enter the procession and so, they went elsewhere."

She was of the view that the Taliban have accepted defeat and these are their 'farewell tactics'. Finding crowded places and events is their goal and such festivals and processions are the ideal situations for them.

She also said that we are a part of a guerilla war and that we should not be criticizing each other but rather support the government.

She said, "This government is the first one which created a consensus among the different parties to have a war against the terrorists. All parties like ANP, MQM and PPP are united. I only ask and appeal to the religious scholars to pass a Fatwa (religious decree) about how to hold and organize religious events and festivals, so that human lives can be saved."

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar-uz Zaman Kaira told SAMAA that the law enforcement agencies have apprehended several terrorists, and all the security agencies including police are working on right way.

“The government has concerns when such blasts occur. The rangers are deployed in Karachi to control the situation created after the target killings.”

Sindh minister for health, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, told SAMAA that emergency has been imposed in all the hospitals of the metropolis and proper treatment is being given to the injured of the two blasts.

Ejaz Haidar, the senior analyst, said that Karachi is economic hub of the country, adding that different groups are trying to create panic and law and order situation in the country.

POLICE FOUND ANOTHER BOMB AT JPMC

Police was informed that a suspected monitor was present in the premises of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) near the blast scene.

The panic was created when the police and the other law enforcement agencies and the bomb disposable squad confirmed that the monitor was installed with explosive material.

The bomb disposable squad said that about 20 to 25 kg explosive materials was planted in the monitor. SAMAA