KARACHI: Two die in blast near Bohra community mosque
- By Zohaib Kazmi -
- Mar 20, 2015
According to details, the bomb exploded outside the Saleh Masjid of Bohra community, near Pakistan Chowk.
ARY News correspondents reported that the initial investigations have revealed that a bomb was planted on a motorbike parked near the main gate of Saleh Masjid. Around two kilograms of explosive material was used in the bomb.
According to DIG South Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, the bomb was detonated with a time device which was planted in a motorbike.
He earlier confirmed that a man has died and several others have been injured. The deceased was identified as Shabbir, aged 55 years.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene and launched the rescue and relief operation. The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and initiated investigation of the terrorism incident.
The loud blast shook nearby buildings and shattered windowpanes. Several motorbikes and vehicles were also damaged in the explosion.
Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah while condemning the blast has directed the Additional IGP -Karachi, Ghulam Qadir Thebo to submit him a report encompassing all aspects of the incident.
Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar has reached Civil Hospital to inquire about the health of the people injured in the blast.
No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Factions of the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP), seeking to topple the government and establish strict Islamic rule in the country, have claimed attacks on minority Shi’ites in the past few weeks, but attacks on the Bohra community are rare.
Friday’s attack was the first on a Bohra mosque in Karachi since an incident three years ago, in which seven people were killed.
Last month, 20 people were killed in an attack on a Shi’ite mosque in Peshawar, while 60 were killed in a January 30 attack on a Shi’ite mosque Shikarpur.
The government has pledged to crack down on all militant groups, reintroduce the death penalty, set up military courts to speed convictions and widen its military campaign in lawless tribal areas.
Yet religious minorities in the country, among them Ahmadis, Christians and Hindus, say the government is doing little to stop discrimination and violence in the Sunni-majority country.
Following are some screen grabs of the blast,
