The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
Brigadier Javed Iqbal of Pakistan Rangers confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
The armoured personnel carrier belonging to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar's convoy was targetted in the attack.
“The attack was against me. I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt district when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured,” Anwar told AFP.
He claimed to have been threatened for a month by “unknown terrorists”.
Police officials escaped unhurt while the people present at the site died and sustained injuries.
Anwar was also involved in last December's raid on a self-styled seminary, where officers said they rescued students, including children as young as seven chained up in the basement, who said they had been regularly beaten.
SSP Anwar was on his way to court over the inquiry into the murder of ex-Malir Bar Association president Salahuddin. The banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba was strongly suspected.
The blast occurred near Afshan Printing Press.
Ball bearings were also used in the blast, which left dents in the armoured personnel carrier. One front tyre of the APC exploded.
Approximately 5 to 6kgs explosives were used in the blast.
The injured have been shifted to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre. The police are facing a challenge identifying three bodies sent to JPMC because they are believed to be of beggars.
BSD and rescue teams had reached the blast site and had cordoned off the area.
One suspect has been arrested for investigation.
Nearby shops have been closed down.
Earlier, it was reported that Edhi sources had claimed that they had heard another blast, in the Malir 15 area. However, no official sources had confirmed the news.
COMMENTS (29)
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My sympathies for the family members of those who lost their lives. I feel really bad for the really awkward situation the public of pakistan has be left to fend for. The goverment is weak (needs atleast 4-5 general elections, around 25 years for democrazy to strengthen pakistan), the civic administration needs to be built, make the Army secular (islamization of the forces means that generals may not be able act directly on TTP or other militia with impunity in the Tribal Areas). The govenment set up also needs some clarity. Its neither parlimentary nor presidential form of goverment.
Although Pakistan is resilient as a nation and will not collapse(my belief), I do beleive that if they act now, it will take another 25-30 years for the democrazy to mature. If things are not put in place....it might just be in slumber for decades to come. I hope not...
Hari
@Awaam: You may be but Pakistanis are not!!!!
@IndianDude: Evidence against hafiz saeed my friend. That's all the people of Pakistan want.
Its about time sharia is implemented in spirit.
Hey Brothers. Its all messy. But look at the charachter of police. They brutally torture and kill the innocent and weak. They are teh symbol of "ZULM" all police stations are mini "ABU GHARIB JAILS". How can we differintiate between them and Talibs they are same brutal people. Both parties are same. Its like one beast killing another.
i hope all civilians stay safe from both beasts.
@US Centcom: The great nation of Pakistan has become the prime target, and sadly it’s become a norm to see innocents getting killed.
Is that what you really think ????
The terrorists should be eliminated with iron hands and by all means.
Every peace loving citizen should join hands with law enforcing agencies in eliminating the terrorists, as they have taken away peace from the country.
If peace will prevail in the country, we will make progress, unemployment will be reduced, local and foreign investments will be made.
..and the people of these banned organizations rally openly in the streets of Pakistan without any fear. Lord have mercy on the innocent people of Pakistan. Allah Hafiz.
These terrorists are on a mission to destabilize the region through their acts of terror. The great nation of Pakistan has become the prime target, and sadly it’s become a norm to see innocents getting killed. This is not the first time that they’ve targeted security officials. These terrorists have been regularly targeting security officials in their bid to spread fear and chaos among the general public. These terrorists are well aware of Pakistan’s importance in stabilizing the region, and that’s why they are fully focused on turning Pakistan into an unstable country. The U.S. also realizes the importance of Pakistan in stabilizing the region and winning the WOT. And that’s why you see our governments working hard to overcome our differences. We face a common threat in the form of terrorism, and we are confident of eliminating that threat through shared commitment and teamwork.
Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of those killed in this deplorable act of terror. We hope justice will be served, and the ones responsible will be caught and punished as soon as possible.
Since…whatever is happened/ happening in Pak….. prematurely every after 2-3 days everything has been put on unknown groups shoulders without any evidences or without any proper procedure or justification and root cause enquiry……similarly if something happens at stat or regional level the guilt/credits directly goes to foreign hands…..even our own hands are open and even the high ups are either involved or well knows the culprits in advance as the situation at Karachi since long……even the nation and whole world knows that its internal political or sectarians homicide and our own hands are involved although no action has been taken against yet….but the unknown, unexcited, imaginary and mysterious actors are hold responsible.
@Afghan Karachiite could you elaborate your point here? who are you implicating? and who are you exonerating?
Lets all praise the likes of Hafiz Saeed. Why do we even complain?? We deserve what we are getting!
All of the posters who feel disgusted with this suicide bombing news were defending LeT/JuD's Hafeez Saeed, just yesterday in other thread!! Pakistanis deserve what they are getting. BTW the taliban got the 'strategic depth' all the way to karachi, while your army is still working to get 'strategic depth' in only the pashtun majority areas of afghanistan! What an irony!!!.
@pakistanibaloch: and who is getting that money and killing own people? those are our own brethren, one of yours andone of mine.
@Afghan Karachiite:
Care to read the rest?
SSP Anwar was on his way to court over the inquiry into the murder of ex-Malir Bar Association president Salahuddin. The banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba was strongly suspected.
There have been around 8-9 consecutive blasts in the Malir/Quaidabad/Bin Qasim area this afternoon.. Why is this not being reported in any of the media?
Well what can I say, when you openly support and glorify people like Hafiz Saeed, all this comes as part of the same package.
karachi is burning and political parties are throwing blames on each other
Police team attacked in PIB, SSP attacked in Malir Halt, what's next. The thread is weaving an old pattern.
Attacking uniformed personnel is construed as an attack on the state. So the state is under attack in Karachi.
Karachites beware!
america is funding the head of the terrorist
@Afghan Karachiite: So, now suicide bombers for hire!! isn't it shows that once funds from abroad has been choked then the "terrorism for hire" poster and ADS might appear.
@Reasoner: spontaneous combustion
yes,proud to say we are MUslims :(
Everybody knows who targets the lawyers in Karachi. Be them the lawyers who were burnt down alive in city court on 12 May or the ones who were killed recently.
What is most alarming; is the fact that now the suicide bombing is not only used by the internationally recognized terrorists - also by targeting killers in Karachi.
ah... strategic asset .. exploding themselves :(
we people are insects.
anything New in Pakistan?oh yes,Zardari going to India...Carry on