Security officials gather at the scene following a bomb attack. PHOTO: AFP
As per initial reports, the blast occurred during Friday prayers at Karbala Maula Imambargah in Lakhi Dar area.
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2:30am
Talking to media on early Saturday, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that on the orders of chief minister, 14 critically injured have been brought to Karachi by C-130 plane for further treatment, Express News reported.
The injured will be treated at Aga Khan Hospital and Sindh government will bear the expenses, said commissioner adding that 16 relatives were also brought with the injured.
10:26pm
Four critically injured patients have been brought by army teams to CMH Panoaqil for treatment, whereas 12 are being shifted to Karachi on Friday night by a C-130 aircraft.
CMH Malir and PNS Shifa have been put on alert to receive the patients.
8:28pm
The death toll has jumped to 61.
Sindh health minister Jam Mehtab Daher told AFP that "the death toll from the attack has increased to 61".
7:35pm
Shaukat Ali Memon, the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Shikarpur, said the death toll has risen to 48.
6:46pm
The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has called for a strike tomorrow to protest against the attack, Express News reported.
5:26pm
The death toll has jumped to 40.
Sindh health minister Jam Mehtab Daher told AFP that "a total of 40 have been killed in the attack, 46 others have been wounded".
Shaukat Ali Memon, the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Shikarpur, confirmed the death toll and warned it could rise further as many of the wounded were in critical condition.
5:20pm
Security officials and police examine the site of the blast. PHOTO: AFP
5:06pm
The death toll now stands at 29.
"An unidentified man placed explosives packed in a shopping bag inside the imambargah and left," Shikarpur police chief said, ruling out earlier reports that it was a suicide blast.
4:45pm
The militant organisation Jundullah, which last year pledged support for the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Our target was the Shia community (mosque)... They are our enemies," said Fahad Marwat, a Jundullah spokesperson. He did not elaborate.
4:40pm
PHOTO: AFP
4:30pm
Local resident Mohammad Jehangir told AFP he had "felt the earth move beneath my feet" as he prayed at another mosque around 1.5 kilometres away.
4:10pm
Sindh health minister Jam Mehtab Daher told AFP that "at least 20 people are dead and 73 others were wounded," adding that 23 of the worst injured had been moved to larger towns with better-equipped hospitals.
However, Shaukat Ali Memon, the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Shikarpur, said the death toll stood at 25.
4:05pm
Jafria Alliance Pakistan spokesperson Syed Mehtab Haider has said they will hold a press conference in Karachi at 5pm to announce their future course of action, our correspondent Noman Ahmed reports.
“The terrorist attack has yet again proven the Sindh government’s total failure to deal with the issue of terrorism,” Haider told The Express Tribune.
3:52pm
Part of the mosque collapsed after the explosion, burying some of the wounded in rubble. Bystanders later pulled them out.
3:50pm
"We are trying to ascertain the nature of the blast," said Shikarpur police chief Saqib Ismail Memon.
"A bomb disposal squad is examining the scene."
3:45pm
Four ambulances and army doctors have been moved to Pano Aqil garrison for treatment of the wounded, according to an Inter Services Public Relations statement.
3:40pm
3:36pm
Abdul Quddus, a senior police official in Shikarpur, told AFP the initial investigation suggested it may have been a suicide blast.
3:35pm
Witness Zahid Noon said hundreds of people had rushed to the scene to try to dig out survivors trapped under the roof of the imambargah, which collapsed in the blast.
Television footage of the aftermath showed chaotic rescue scenes as people piled the wounded into cars, motorbikes and rickshaws to take them for treatment.
"The area is scattered with blood and flesh and it smells of burnt meat, people are screaming at each other... it is chaos," Noon told AFP.
"A huge contingency of police and Rangers is present here and ambulances from the nearby towns have started to arrive."
3:30pm
"At least 20 bodies and more than 50 wounded people have been brought to the hospital," Shaukat Memon, Shikarpur Civil Hospital medical superintendent, said.
3:20pm
According to an eyewitness, a suicide bomber allegedly blew himself up during Friday prayers.
"At least 80 people were present inside the imambargah at the time of the blast," the eyewitness added.
3:15pm
Owing to a shortage of doctors in Shikarpur, medical teams have been sent from Sukkur and Jacobabad.
3:05pm
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon condemning the incident said, “I have spoken to doctors and urged them to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.”
“Sindh chief minister has asked IG Sindh for an initial investigative report,” Memon said, while speaking to Express News.
Further, the information minister insisted the blast did not occur because of a security lapse.
"The entire Pakistan is under threat and militants attack wherever they find a soft target but the blast did not occur because of a security lapse, there security was present at the site."
3:00pm
All Pakistan Shia Action Committee Shikarpur president Molvi Sikandar claims that the number of casualties is higher because the hospitals in the area are not well equipped.
2:45pm
According to Shikarpur Civil Hospital medical superintendent Shaukat Memon the death toll has risen to 20.
2:42pm
Express News screengrab of the site of the blast.
2:40pm
Tahafuz-e-Azadari Council has announced three days of mourning following the blast.
2:35pm
The death toll now stands at 12.
Express News screengrab of the site of the blast.
2:28pm
Sindh provincial health minister Jam Mehtab said "at least 12 people have been killed and more than 40 injured".
2:24pm
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has asked IG Sindh for an initial investigative report of the blast.
Further, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan have condemned the blast.
2:16pm
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the blast and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
2:15pm
Police and Rangers have cordoned off the area and emergency has been declared in Civil Hospital.
2:10pm
Five injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital in Shikarpur and are said to be in critical condition.
2:00pm
The nature of the blast is not known as yet. However, reports suggest it might be a suicide blast.
Police officials and rescue teams have reached the site of the blast.
This is the bloodiest single sectarian attack in the country since January 22 last year, when 24 Shia pilgrims returning from Iran were killed when their bus was bombed in Balochistan.
COMMENTS (57)
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I want to condemn and give condolence to those who died in shikarpur.I want to convey to the enemy that their terrorist activities can never overcome us and if they think that by persisting with terrorism they can defeat us they are living in fools paradise b/c we are not aggressors that we would move back we are fighting for our survival and we will fight till the very end and if God forbids we will see our end we will finish but not with out destroying you and you know we are capable of it. MY advise to policy makers of Pak is that they should carry on the cooperation against the hardliners but should also start a two way negotiating process one focusing the Taliban commanders and other focusing the fighters on battlefield.You must start this in N.Waziristan and extend it to Afghanistan.Make acommity comprising of people having respect on both sides and give security especially those commanders who want to come back,and after sometime when you see all juice has been extracted,I fully support idea in powerful circles of launching air strikes in terrorist hide outs in afghanistan
It is shameful, that extremists and apologists for these Sunni extremists, want to deflect the blame somehow to India. 61 lives have been lost. How many widows? Any thoughts for the yateems? What about the mothers of the vistims.
Not a thought for them by these Makkah kuffars.
Pakistan army should take control of Pakistan
Pakistan is failure state
Long live India n long live Pakistan. Itz right time Pakistan learned citizen to take charge n STO this hatred on the name on religion. Politician n Mulla's are minting money n poor are radicalised . India has citizen of more than 7 religions and living in harmony n progressing. Whole world is watching u jus think about your future generation. What we are doing for them. Make this world more beautiful n safe.
I am sure all the Shia Muslims in Kashmir would now want kashmir to join Pakistan to be butchered for being non-Muslims.
@Naqi Akbar:
"You cannot convince Kashmiri brothers when your own government treats Shia Muslims like the way BJP treats Kashmiri Muslims!"
Would you be kind enough to explain the "way BJP treats Kashmiri Muslims"?
Apparently, the BJP must be treating the Kashmiri Muslims very well since they are forming an alliance with the BJP to rule Kashmir as we speak.
I think it's high time for shias to fight back.
There are many angles to view this horrified incident; some of them can be identified:
1- DOMISTIC ISSUES: Illiteracy, militancy, sectarianism, social and economic injustice, corrupt politician and bureaucrats, Jagirdars and Wadayras.
2- REGINAL ISSUES: border issue with India and Afghanistan, China-Gwadar-Arab countries interrelations.
3-INTERNATIONAL ISSUES: Impact of Second World War, World before and after cold war, social and economic injustice.
4-MUSLIM COUNTIRES: Leadership (King Abdullah left over $20 billion), the core issue for Muslims (Al-Quds) and Israel relation with India and America.
Unequal role of UNO and Security Council veto power privilege.
Indians did it
Who is responsible for the Security in Mosques? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Civilian Govt or the Army? like the teachers are responsible for security in schools!
And the government of Pakistan wants to spend all time and resource on raising Kashmir issue in UN. Thousands Shias dying in Pakistan and they want to add Kashmiris who are pre dominantly Shias to their lawless country ?
@Lord of the Ring: 2000 is a peanut compare to close to 56000 body count of muslims in hands of muslims in Pakistan in last decade. How many muslims died in India since Godhra riot ?
@Lord of the Ring: If you blame Gujrat for the massacre because he happens to the C.M at the time, why not blame Sharif for Gojra massacre, since he is still the C.M of Punjab. And there is not a single court in the world, where is a pending case against Mr. Modi.
My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. Someone please do something to stop these mad people. Muslim or non Muslim there is no reason to kill innocent people. raj from Mumbai; India
Very depressing and sad news. Execute Mumtaz Qadri. Eliminate Malik Ishaq. Raid Lal Masjid and eliminate Mulla Abdul Aziz Ghazi, punish the girl students who made the video pledging support to IS. These are just few of the steps that would send a strong signal.
@Shamsher Singh Bajwa: Lots of them have already been hanged to death. While the murder in chief of 200 Muslims in Gujarat is your prime minister.
@Lord of the Ring: You can only think up to this level Gujrat riots happened in 2002 and were started by peace loving Muslims by burning Hindu pilgrimage in Godhra you believe what your Mullas say and believe the history which is taught in your schools we are proud that there were no major riots after 2002 whereas such blasts take place every alternate day in your Holy land dub maro is there any Muslim country which is peace full where Muslims are not killing Muslims come out from this India phobia and one thing more you can not harm India even with your ladla Atom bomb as learned Hassan Nissar said. There is Muslim Vice President of India at present three Muslims became the President s of India there many retired Muslim General of India Army and many serving officers chief justice of the supreme court and judges of High courts IAS and IPS officers the spokesman of External affairs Ministry is Muslim IFS officers you please tell me how many Hindus and Sikhs and christians are holding such positions.
in our country blood is cheap than water
Ironically there were three ambulances, insufficient beds in hospital, no proper medical staff and medicines that cause the rise in death tool. The local authorities were warned earlier for the suspicious attacks in the city. Also, the streets are congested and the collapse of roof due to explosion caused the death of many that otherwise could have been saved.
Jundullah, which recently pledged allegiance to ISIL but operating for years under the TTP umbrella, has claimed the sectarian terrorist attack on the mosque for Friday prayers against the Shia minority. What progress have the authorities made against this group of Sunni extremists specifically in all this time?
Will there be massive protests? NO. These aren't drawings; just the mass slaughter of people going about their daily lives. Because in Pakistan human lives don't matter, only lines on paper do.
@Asif Sheikh, sadly 33 more like you spreading false propoganda. The image of nawaz sharif, and their family corruption has reached the worst level. The image is even below Zardari and his gang. The administration in Pakistan was like congress party of india aimless, vision less, arrogant, jeb bharo gang.This bomb is aimed at dislodging nawaz sharif by PPP. Sadly india is dragged into picture.
Another terrorist act. Several lives are lost. Our sympathies are with Pakistan. Now Mullas will rejoice..Our hatred speeches have desired effect. Our friends have targeted Shais who are not Muslims. Oh Illiterate Mualls All are human beings first and then the citizenship and religion come. May the souls rest in peace
A big shame on Sindh and Federal government to whom any misery is meaningless. They have repeatedly failed to protect lives of innocents. Had this been happened in any other country, they would have not sat until apprehending the culprits and sentencing them to death.
@Lord of the Ring: those responsible for Gujrat massacre are in jail, there was a trail and a judgement. Now please tell us how many cases of Shia, and Ahmadi killing have went on trail in pakistan?
In any other country, this would be reason enough to declare an emergency (Ex. Charlie Hebdo attacks in France).
Untill Pakistani fix their own house they have only them to be blamed for carnage like this where 40 innocent lives are lost and the Government still stays in Power. In other countries when they lose a few citizen, they go after the perpetrators and not just offer condolences. If they are unable to do so they RESIGN.
This is what human life is worth in a so called Muslim Land or should I call it Najisistan?
This country was created because the founding members wanted to protect Muslims. The Nation has been a dramatic failure in protecting anybody. You can keep blaming India for sending Osama Bin Laden to Pakistan and live there. You can continue to claim Kashmir but look around you and ask yourself which country prospered because of blaming another country? You should think what can be done to stop these killings. Has the country not learned anything from Peshawar massacre?
The nation is falling apart and the leaders want to "turn the heat up" on Kashmir. First douse the flames in Pakistan. Kashmir has been where it was for the last 70 years and it ain't going anywhere. Don't think any nation has been cursed with a lower calibre of leaders.
Not a single Maulvi condemned this attack. For them, it's the purification of Pakistan going on. The sad part is that 100's of 1000's have been radicalized and trained in arms and bombings to please America to fight the Russians as well as Indians. This apart of millions have been radicalized through a steady stream of radicalized ideology inducted through school education , madrasahs, and the media. Religion has been made a state business. This radicalization extended well into the armed forces who conducted attacks on their own forces, provided intelligence to Taliban and other militant groups. Even now, no lessons are learnt and the obsession on Kashmir continues.
@Lord of the Ring, yeah agreed. But what about the place where 50,000 Muslims, many of them minority Shia Muslims, have been killed in religious violence in the last decade alone?
@Waqas: Well put, dude. Judging by their responses, seems like our Indian trolls would need a donut bag to sit on this weekend. Good work, really.
@Shamsher Singh Bajwa: where 2000 Muslims are burned to death by a CM who is made PM by hindus !!
Qaim Ali Shah along with Sindh government should be immediately removed as they have failed to maintain law & order situation across the province.
Any mullah spreading sectarianism has to be punished very severely.
If mullahs in Pakistan can not respect their fellow citizens they need to be dealt with the full force of the law.
They are a disgrace and insult to Islam.
@Waqas: You cannot convince Kashmiri brothers when your own government treats Shia Muslims like the way BJP treats Kashmiri Muslims!
I will be really disappointed in Gen. Raheel Sharif if he doesn't look into this and bring the culprits to justice. Civilian lives are as important as of army kids. Please get rid of these menaces once and for all!
Let us once again say that Islam is a peaceful religion and these attackers can't be Muslims. Guys, let's wipe out these weeds from our system first and progress as nation then think about India and Kashmir!
@Asif Sheikh, Okara: Does anyone even listen to you or take you seriously?
Yesterday 16 were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan, today 20 are killed in a suicide attack in Pakistan. India is the only safest country for Muslims of South Asia.
Come on start blaming India
@waqas- u wrote what I wanted to write... it sums up Pakistani nation. save what u have then try and save the kashmiris.
Let the India bashing start !!!! National sport of Pak , Bash India and west !
RIP Victims.........Hope you guys can find out the truth behind the attacks and punish the guilty...on the other hand truth is enemy of faith
We need to remove extremist people and terrorist supporter in our midst to stop this. as our establishment says: The enemy is within Pakistan not outside.
Breaking News? Only heart breaking but no news.
I hear lot of comments like "someone terrorists are someones freedom fighters"- so are these freedom fighters? Shower rose petals pls
When "Addi" and other wadera corruption party thugs would recruit criminals in Police against millions for each post this would be the state of security in sinned province.
Don't blame India for everything, we have our own TTP
@Asif Sheikh, yes true, the message is clear, better watch out before putting out statements through Foreign Office.
@Waqas: Marvelous satire, ET will forward to Sartaj Aziz.
Indian payback for opposing its UNSC membership
Sad news!
Concentrate on kashmir pls- lets not get distracted