The site in Orangi Town where one of the bombs was placed. PHOTO: NNI
The tall claims of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies about ‘foolproof security’ fell short yet again as four bomb blasts went off in the city minutes before the procession for chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) was to start.
Four people were killed in the explosions while more than two dozen people were injured. The series of blasts started with the first one at MA Jinnah Road, minutes before the central chehlum procession was scheduled to pass through the area, and three more followed at Orangi Town. All four bombs went off between 11:45am to 1pm.
The first low-intensity blast near Capri Cinema created panic among the participants of the procession but no casualties were reported. Experts of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said that the explosive material was planted on a pole of a signboard situated along the route of the chehlum procession.
While law enforcers were busy investigating the first incident, another low-intensity blast took place an hour later in Orangi Town, targeting the Azakhana-e-Kauser Imambargah. No casualties were reported but the wall of the Imambargah was damaged. Just as rescuers and residents rushed to the site, the second blast in Orangi Town took place 10 minutes after the previous one. This one was more powerful, killing four people and injuring more than two dozen people. “The second blast at Orangi Town targeted the law enforcers as the suspects knew they would have gathered at the site because of the first one,” said West and Central police chief, DIG Javed Odho.
He confirmed that four people were killed, adding that the deceased were all residents of the same area and gathered at the Imambargah because of the first explosion.
The injured people included sub-inspector Shafi, four volunteers, two scouts and passers-by and bystanders. Bodies of the deceased and the injured were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Three of the deceased persons were identified as 15-year-old Sunny, son of Gul Zafran, a young man, Irfan, son of Bashir Ahmed, and 16-year-old Rabi Awwal, son of Mazhar Hussain.
Last of the four
About half an hour after the second blast in Orangi Town, another bomb went off in the same area, injuring at least three children who were playing in the ground near their residences in Qasba Colony. The injured were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors termed the condition of one child critical.
According to the BDS, a cracker bomb was used at Qasba Colony while the remaining three explosions were of improvised explosive devices. “The second bomb in Orangi Town weighed around three kilogrammes and was planted near a tree close to the Imambargah,” said an expert of the BDS.
The official added that the first three bombs, containing ball bearings, were detonated through remote controlled devices.
Karachi police chief, Additional IG Shahid Hayat, along with other senior police officials also reached Numaish Chowrangi after the first blast. “Security has been further tightened in the entire city,” he said, adding that the mourners were asked to carry on with the procession after the route was rechecked.
Mourners staged a protest against the bombings, claiming that such acts would not deter them from their purpose. “These cowardly acts of terrorism are strengthening us even more,” said a leader of the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Maulana Sadiq Raza Taqvi while talking to The Express Tribune. “A day will come when the terrorists will be tired, but not us.”
The ban on pillion riding has been extended for one more day following the four consecutive blasts in Karachi on Tuesday, said a notification of the Sindh home department.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
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