KARACHI – At least six people were injured in a cracker bomb blast targetting a Mehfil-e-Milad in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar on Saturday night.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) leader Faisal Sabzwari told that the religious gathering was organised by his party at Perfume Chowk in the metropolitan.
Sabzwari, who is also an onlooker, said that the explosion occurred near a footpath, adding that Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the party convener, was also present on the stage.
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Rescue teams have reached the spot while injured were shifted to a private hospital for the medical treatment.
Security officials, including police and Rangers, have cordoned off the area while an investigation has been launched to trace the suspects.
Roads leading to the area have been closed for traffic.
Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that he was also present on the stage with Siddiqui when the explosive device went off on their left side.
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He said that members of the Rabitta Committee and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Siddiqui remained safe in the attack.
SSP East Asfar said that it was cracker bomb, which was hurled at the mehfil, adding that parts of the device are being collected for further investigation. A detonator was also found from the spot.
He added that the MQM-P has not gotten any permission from the relevant police station to hold the religious gathering in the area.
Meanwhile, IG Sindh Kaleem Imam has summoned detailed report from the SSP.
KARACHI CAR BLAST
The cracker bomb blast happened days after a stolen car parked in an empty plot on Khayaban-e-Shamsheer in Karachi’s Defence exploded. The South DIG, Javed Alam Odho, confirmed that there was a locally-made bomb planted in the vehicle.
The DIG in a report further said that there was no target in the explosion. It was carried out with the intent to spread fear and panic, he wrote in the report. He said the bomb was attached to a cylinder but it didn’t explode.
