KARACHI, July 11: A man was killed and over 20 others were injured when a bomb exploded near a bus carrying employees of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) to the city on Wednesday.

The explosion took place at Hub Chowki bus stop No 2 near Hub River Road and the injured were taken to the nearby Murshid Hospital and Civil Hospital. Later, the Suparco management shifted those in the Civil Hospital to the Liaquat National Hospital.

According to police, the bus left the Suparco premises at 4.10pm and the explosion took place shortly afterwards, killing a bystander. He was identified as Mohammad Ansar, 65.

Karachi West SSP Amir Farooqui said Mr Ansar died apparently of shock or impact of the blast because he hadn’t suffered any injury.

“Circumstantial evidence suggests that a bomb weighing around 3kg had apparently been placed on a bicycle whose twisted parts were found at the place,” the SSP told Dawn.

Mohammad Faisal, 55, an office assistant who has worked in Suparco for 34 years, said the bus left the office at its usual time and was coming off the Hub River Road when the loud explosion took place. Most of the passengers were residents of Malir and adjoining areas, he said.—Staff Reporter