KARACHI: Three members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) among 20 people were wounded when unknown armed assailants hurled a grenade at a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) camp in Orangi Town on Friday evening.
Among those injured in the attack were MQM MPAs Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Abdullah and Saifuddin Khalid.
Panic gripped the area soon after the attack. Ambulances and rescue workers immediately reached the site and shifted the victims to the Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town.
The injured were later shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where they were said to be out of danger.
Bomb disposal squad’s personnel also reached the site to determine the nature of the blast. According to a BDS expert, the culprits had used a Russian-made hand grenade, and everyone within a ten feet radius was affected by the blast.
Following the incident, law enforcement agencies began conducting raids in various parts of Orangi Town; however, no one was arrested till the filing of this news story.
SSP Irfan Baloch said that nothing could be said about the assailants as investigations were still in the preliminary phase.
Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain telephoned the injured members of the party, and inquired about their condition.
He added that such coward attacks could not dampen the resolve of party workers, and directed them to remain peaceful and united.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also condemned the attack, and directed Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali to submit an inquiry report and arrest those responsible at the earliest.
Separately, Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid on Friday strongly condemned the blast on MQM’s camp in Karachi.
In a statement, the minister sympathised with the MQM leadership and expressed solidarity with them.
Rashid added that terrorists cannot deter the nation and stop political forces from exercise their democratic right of political activities and meetings.
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My sympathies with all the injured. May they return to normalcy ASAP. The grenade attack will not deter their membership campaign and the Muttaheda will emerge stronger than ever. Whoever, is behind the grenade attack must be feeling the pinch of Muttaheda's membership campaign. Salams