Media officials record video the site of twin bomb blasts near the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party office in Karachi on May 4, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
BADIN/ KARACHI: Two planted bombs went off approximately 20 minutes apart near a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) election office killing at least three people and injuring 40 others on Saturday evening, Express News reported.
The first bomb, police said, was planted in a cement block with nuts and bolts placed near an MQM election office that killed at least one person and injured five others. Additionally it damaged its walls and nearby vehicles.
As rescue workers gathered to take the injured to the hospital, a second, more powerful bomb went off. An eight year old child was among the dead.
Police said that both bombs were planted and were detonated using remote control.
After the blast, the MQM announced a day of mourning in Sindh on Sunday. Its leader Wasay Jalil reiterated that the party will continue its election campaign and participate in the May 11 elections.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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End of LIVE UPDATES
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10:50 pm
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have claimed responsibility for the twin attacks.
Spokesperson for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ehsanullah Ehsan, called The Express Tribune to say that the TTP has carried out the attacks.
“The Saturday’s attacks are the continuation of our targeted attacks on the MQM, PPP and ANP,” the TTP spokesperson said.
The caretaker prime minister has also directed the interim interior minister to travel to Karachi in wake of the blasts.
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10:30 pm
MQM Coordination Committee has called for a day of mourning in Sindh tomorrow.
Express News reports that the suspicious vehicle outside the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has been cleared.
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10:15 pm
MQM leader Wasay Jalil calls the blast a failing of the caretaker set up. "They have failed and they should own up to it that they have failed and charge should be given to some body else."
Despite the loss of two of their workers, Jalil insisted that the MQM will continue with its campaigns and participate in the elections.
"On May 11 we will follow the due procees and follow the democratic way... MQM will keep conducting its activities."
The death toll has jumped to three dead, including two MQM workers. As many as 33 people have been injured in the twin blasts.
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10:00 pm
BDS is investigating a suspicious vehicle outside the Abbasi Shaheed hospital where most of the people injured in the Azizabad twin blasts were brought for treatment.
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9:50 pm
Express News correspondent Nadeem Khan reports that bomb disposal squad is currently sweeping the area to see if there are any further planted explosive devices. However, initial investigations point towards the fact that the explosive devices were planted.
He adds that the blasts damaged Unit Office 153 of the MQM that was being used as an election office. The blast was so powerful that it caused a section of the office's wall to collapse. A rickshaw was also destroyed due to the blast.
Power has also been restored in the area.
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9:40 pm
DIG West Saifur Rehman confirmed that at least one person has died and five people have been injured in the first blast. He adds that the bomb disposal squad has reached the site of the blast and is conducting its investigations.
He reiterates that security was high in the area since it is very close to the MQM headquarters of 9-0.
Express News correspondent Quratulain Hashmi reports from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital that 16 people injured in both the blasts have been brought for treatment. Children are among the injured.
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9:35 pm
Emergency has been declared in city hospitals including Sindh Government Liaquatabad Hospital and Memon Hospital. Some injured have been rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital.
Express News correspondent Muhammad Naveed says that the blast took place on the main road. He adds that currently there is no electricity in the immediate vicinity of the blast.
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9:30 pm
Express News correspondent Nadeem Khanzada reports that per initial reports from the police, the second blast was more powerful than the first.
He adds that several rescue personnel have been injured in the second blast.
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9:25 pm
Express News correspondent Nadeem Khan reported that according to initial information received from the police, between six and eight people have been injured.
He added that the explosion was near Lal Qila ground, where the MQM frequently holds its public gathering.
The injured are being shifted to hospitals.
The MQM had also staged a rally in Karachi earlier in the day.
The MQM has faced as many as four attacks on its election offices and workers.
COMMENTS (40)
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hum jeein gay or marin gay MQM tere liy..........
@Ali tanoli What a Intellectual person you are, Have you hear any bomb blast in last 10 years? (except the attack on a Hindu temple) will you enlighten us with your Imaginable Intellectualism? "kab talak sach chupaoge, kabhi to tanhai mei khud se Nazar milaoge"
Gulam Rasool"Kuldeep sharma" New Delhi
Bomb blast on 30th April, MQM called for day of mourn on 1st may, So PTI postponed its Karachi jalsa. Bomb blast 4th May, MQM called day of mourn for the next day, on which JI organized jalsa at mazar-e-quide.
@javed:
Talk about owning up. The 'secular' people of Karachi have brought most of this chaos upon themselves by making Karachi a free-for-all for every lowlife in the country. Karachi is a victim of its own tolerance and diversity.
No matter what these killers do there would be no seats for PTI and PML-N from Sindh. People of Sindh know full well who has been killing their people and who is benefitting from their murders. Those who think they can make a stable govt only on the basis of northern Punjab are living in fool's paradise. It is sad to see that still the ANP, MQM and PPP are not making seat adjustments to deprive the rightwing parties of even a single seat from the three smaller provinces.
TTP which is supported by Pmln and Pti are creating problem for every other province. Why is there no terorist attack in Punjab.
An explosive device was placed outside MQM office after digging up the ground, since we all know that this area is heavily guarded by armed activists of MQM. Isn't this strange?
@Baffled: go through the news again. IK always condemn the terrorism in every aspects. speak for a change naya pakistan
I live in karachi and i know how much security is there in azizabad specially at 90 surrounding area.... How can someone come there and plant a bomb after digging a hole and no one see them doing that !! Can't believe !
There are bombs exploding everywhere but still the elections are necessary. This is insane. Democracy is not for a nation full of fundamentalists. Democracy is all about toleran.ce
@Mustafa: "They are being targeted because they are the only political party with enough guts to speak up against ttp."
I was so happy that day when Altaf Hussein said that MQM shall go after talibans. Alas, was disappointed when he backed out on MQM's planned protests. MQM should have gone after the talibans much earlier when Altaf Hussein disclosed that Karachi is being taken over by the talibans. They could have turned the table of talibans and all its supporters, be they political parties or religious parties. It now appears that it is too late for MQM to do anything before the elections.
Where are those CCTV cameras which were installed by MQM in all over karachi?
The more there are threats to a liberal Pakistan ‚ the more important it becomes to go out there and vote!
the lawlessness in the city was introduced during the time of zia ul haq and ghaus Ali shah. I think most of the people who write comments were not even born. Police in sindh and particularly of Karachi was destroyed as a institution during 80s thanx to zia and during cmship of Ghaus Ali shah. I doubt if most of the people even know of Qasbah Aligarh massacre where state and police closed its eyes.
why is it always NEAR the office...while anp have its leaders killed straighaway..no bombs near offices for ANP..
Why mqm, ppp and anp selected incompetent people for care taker setup in sindh, that are failed in providing protection.
Ae putar hatan de nahen vikhde
@Ali: most of them killed by each other. read history of last 5 years.
Army troops should be called in karachi.
When will governor sb resign?
@javed: Blaming USA for every issue in Pakistan is same like blaming Punjab for each issue in karachi. Please dont drag punjab in every mishap in karachi. last 5 years the 3 major political parties were fighting in karachi.
The responsible are ex-ruler who made selection for the care take setup.
I guess the punjab parties and their followers must be sitting back and enjoying the destruction their right wing idealogues are distributing to the secular people of karachi. Disgusted with this country.
Lets hide our heads in the ground and say this is not our war.
I am totally against this as innocent people are getting killed..but you have to understand why this is happening what is the root cause..what you saw so shall you reap..All the political parties in Karachi who have militant wings have made Karachi the den for all kinds of terrorism..they have created an atmoshperhe in Karachi by them self that any one now knows no one will be caught or convicted..now others are jumping in to benefit from this lawlessness of Karachi created by political parties to be used in there favor..80 percent of Karachi police is made of members of these political parties...if there is no equal law in society..this will happen..and now they cry like a baby after not able to fix this mess in Karachi..
Deaths and murders since 1985 and still librals politics how????
TTP is targetting shias who are major supporters of MQM. May Allah protect Karachi from this shaitani TTP who have nothing to do with islam.
@indian shia, I hope all is well in Allahabad too hahahahaha
the mullahs have declared war , the only response is to eradicate mullahs and all those that support them , including apogists , tv anchors , the people that finance them, their teachers and politicians who support their extremist ideology there will never be a naya Pakistan until we stop the mullahs.
Still relatively better security situation compared prior to interim government when 10-15 people used to die of targeted firing attacks.
Let the games begin! #election
I strongly condemn these cowardice acts by terrorists and openly challenge them that if they really want to fight then come and fight face to face. Don't underestimate the power of MQM and fear for that time when they start chasing you back to your holes!
My condolences for the people who died and my full support for MQM in this war against terrorists!
They are being targeted because they are the only political party with enough guts to speak up against ttp.
Dushman se kaho apna teerkhash dobara bharle. Iss simt hazaron senay hain. uss simt agar hain teer bohat. They can kill us but cannot kill our spirit. MQM will not let Pakistan die; MQM will never runaway form these cowards. Jiya Altaf, Jiya Muttahida. Pakistan zindabaad
Dear Imran Khan ,just for the sake of humanity condemn these blasts just for once in your Jalsas. .
@The Only Normal Person Here.: What is that liberal policy? Supporting Zardari or maintaining status quo?
MQM's being targetted for its liberal policies.
Hope in KARACHI all allahabadi (who hv migrated from allahabad city of uttar pradesh) r safe god bless
It seems that probably TTP is after MQM election campaign.
But the day MQM will be after the suicude attackers, they won't be able to find a place to hide.
It is just a matter of MQM will get the master minds of the suicude attackers and people who are responsible for the bomb blasts at MQM election offices.