12-year-old boy killed in Imambargah attack

Imambargah Dar-e-Abbas is situated at Liaquatabad No 4 that falls within the jurisdiction of Sharifabad police station

KARACHI: A twelve-year-old boy was killed while nearly 20 others – mostly women and children – were wounded when an Imambargah in District Central came under attack Monday night.

“They (the attackers) intended to lob a bomb inside the Imambargah but luckily they failed in their attempt,” said Additional IG Mushtaq Maher while visiting the blast site. “The bomb fell close to the main door of the Imambargah, injuring the mourners sitting and standing outside it.”

Imambargah Dar-e-Abbas is situated at Liaquatabad No 4 that falls within the jurisdiction of the Sharifabad police station.Witnesses said armed motorcyclists were behind the attack. “Two armed men riding a motorcycle threw some explosive material on a Muharram majlis for women,” said Ali Ahmar. An initial report prepared by the bomb disposal squad suggests that it was an improvised explosive device, weighing around 300gm. Paramilitary Rangers and police have cordoned off the area.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and IGP Sindh Allah Dino Khawaja took notice of the attack and ordered officials concerned to arrest the culprits as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Majlis Wahadat-e-Muslimeen strongly condemned the blast and demanded swift arrest of the culprits behind the assault.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2016.