Cameramen films the vehicles damaged by a motorcycle bomb blast in Karachi January 1, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
According to details, a motorcycle laden with explosives targeted the bus when it was parked.
According to eyewitnesses, the motorcycle on which explosives were planted was not present when the buses were parked and it was seen after the people returned to the buses from the rally.
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END OF LIVE UPDATES
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9:55pm
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claims responsibility for the attack.
TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan says that MQM was the target of the blast, adding that this was the beginning and more such attacks will follow. He warns the public against attending MQM’s rallies.
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9:46pm
Death toll has reached four, say hospital sources.
A Reuters picture shows investigators inspecting the wreckage of the bomb blast.
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9:10pm
“The bomb was planted in a motorcycle. At least 21 people have been injured, condition of two of them was critical,” Asif Ijaz, a senior police official tells AFP.
“We are investigating whether it was a timed device or a remote-controlled bomb,” Imran Shokat, a spokesman for police in southern Sindh province, tells AFP.
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8:45pm
The Express Tribune correspondent Faraz Khan reports that two people have died in the blast while around 40 have sustained injuries.
DIG District West Asif Aijaz Sheikh tells the media that around 2kgs of explosives were used in the blast and were planted in place of the motorcycle’s battery. Ball bearings were also used in the blast, he adds.
DIG Sheikh says that around 50 people have been injured but there is no confirmed death toll available as yet.
The buses which were targeted had brought participants to the rally from the Orangi area of the city.
According to eyewitnesses, the motorcycle on which explosives were planted was not present when the buses were parked and it was seen after the people returned to the buses from the rally.
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8:36pm
President Asif Ali Zardari expresses sympathies with the bereaved families and says that the people involved in terrorist activities are enemies of the society, reports Radio Pakistan.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemns the terrorist incident and says the people targeting the nation are open enemies of Pakistan.
According to a Reuters report, one person was killed and 21 were injured in the blast.
Two of the injured are in a critical condition, police spokesman Imran Shaukat told Reuters.
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7:52pm
After shifting the injured to the hospital, the police, CID and the bomb disposal squad initiate a search operation to look for evidence.
Hospital sources say three of the injured are in critical condition.
Police and Rangers have cordoned off the area.
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7:42pm
Around three buses were severely affected by the blast, while the windows of at least 6-7 buses shattered.
The number of injured has gone up to 18, who have been shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
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7:35pm
The explosion near Ayesha Manzil was heard in KDA, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and the Quaid’s Mausoleum, Geo News reports.
Rescue teams are facing difficulty in reaching the blast site due to a traffic jam in the area. MQM workers are also trying to help with the rescue work.
The number of injured has gone up to eight.
The site of the blast is 500 metres away from the site of MQM's rally Jinnah ground.
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7:26pm
One person is killed in the blast.
The bus was carrying participants back from Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) rally in Jinnah ground. A motorcycle parked nearby with explosives planted on it targeted the bus.
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7:23pm
Around 5-6 people are reportedly injured who are being shifted to a nearby hospital.
Construction work is underway in the Ayesha Manzil area currently, due to which the place often experiences traffic jams.
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7:20pm
Rescue services, police and bomb disposal squad have left for the site of the incident.
COMMENTS (26)
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this real sense new year of pakistan
Either reject killing in the name of religion, or continue to live in violent anarchy until the killers take power, at which point you will live in suffocating rigidity.
Very sad news ... Now Karachi also attacked
R.I.P.
My salute to the brave victims. May MQM continue on its brave path and becomes successful in its righteous struggle against these terrorists who have made this country their hostage. The incredibly courageous Karachiites have fought injustice before and will continue to do so. No pack of idiots and criminals hiding in mountains can deter them from moving the caravan forward.
The Army,ISI and the police should capture and put on trial the 'TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan' . Put a bounty on him. The cost would be well worth it. The cost of destruction and mayham that they create far outweighs the cost the killings.
The insanity of the TTP and their fellow extremists.
When will the security forces and leadership shutup their spokesman Ehsan, and root out and finish off the criminal militants and traitors from their safe havens and in the population's midst?
@malik hussain
If he is so bold why don't he come back to Pakistan?
Look at the bus in the pic. only 4 dead?
Time to be united against takfiri deobandi terrorists! Let's show them what is the real unity of Shia and Sunni (barelvi) :)
After this blast i support million march to islamabad. I will myself go there.
Some reports are saying more than 50 mqm workers were killed. Strike has been called for tomorrow.
Tomorrow strike is being called to honour the dead and injured mohajirs. We love Altaf Hussain a truely bold leader.
The Natural Laws of Karma........Thoughts Create Reality
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage. Shakayamuni
MQM has called for a zhutter down strike all over sind. I hope it will be peaceful and supported by all.
@HH: Government need to take a serious action, we are tried to see those things happen in Pakistan.. 1st jan 2013 first blast... :(
@Aijaz Haider: There is a plan to breakup Pakistan by 2015. Search the Bernard Lewis Plan on Google.
Just like Yugoslavia economy will be destroyed sector by sector and then a civil war between different ethnicities, sects and religions. We all know about media subversion campaigns ripe on our tubes.
Obviously people won't start killing each other without the help from forces which need to balkanize our nation. Hence these gun attacks and bombings just to give a little nudge.
Where are those guys who were bashing Bangla Desh's decision Not to tour Pakistan on security grounds?
And the Taliban get to work...
What is the reason behind a surge in terrorist attacks all over the country? Why are the law-enforcement agencies not doing their job? They seem to be reluctant to act and retaliate. The issue is not beiing addressed seriously by the government and the army. We need to act fast.
Explosion also heard in FUUAST Gulshan Campus.
not even the new year started......disappointing
Explosin effects: all markets close at Abdullah haroon road,saddar,karachi
:(