Sectarian attack?: One dead in Karachi Imambargah blast

KARACHI:

At least one person was killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in a low-intensity explosion in Karachi’s Landhi neighbourhood on Thursday night.

The incident took place when unidentified persons threw an explosive inside the Sajjadia Imambargah in Majeed Colony. Ambulances rushed to the site and shifted the victims to public and private hospitals.

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s Deputy Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali told The Express Tribune that one dead and 17 injured men were brought to the hospital.

Heavy contingent of Rangers and police reached the site and cordoned off the entire locality. Bomb disposal squad also arrived at the site to collect evidence. According to BD experts, a hand grenade was used in the incident.

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen spokesperson told The Express Tribune that a member of the shia community lost his life in the attack. However, a few media reports suggested that the blast had caused three fatalities.

He said the Imambargah came under attack when a crowd of people was busy in the Niaz and Azadari. He said the incident appears to have sectarian motives and demanded arrest of the culprits.

The incident caused partial suspension of routine and commercial activities in Landhi and shia-dominated areas including Jafer Tayyar Society in Malir, Ancholi Society, Rizvia Society and M A Jinnah Road where members of the community also staged a protest against the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2013.