Blast ravages Shia neighbourhood
Rescuers gather at the site of the bomb blast in Karachi on March 3, 2013. — Photo by AFP
At least 45 killed, 135 injured; many died in their apartments
KARACHI: At least 45 people, many women and children among them, were killed and over 135 injured in a massive bombing in the city’s Shia-dominated neighbourhood of Abbas Town on Sunday evening.
The explosion took place at the time of Maghrib prayers between two apartment blocks at the entrance to Abbas Town.
A blast had taken place on November 18 last year at almost the same place. It was caused by explosives tied to a motorcycle.
A police official initially said the bomb blast had taken place not far from an Imambargah.
But the brunt of the attack was borne by two adjoining blocks of Rabia Flowers and Iqra City. The ground and first floors in both the blocks were badly damaged, exposing the living rooms of apartments. Some flats were reduced to rubble.
There were reports that several residents died inside their apartments because of the sheer impact of the blast and injuries caused by shrapnel.
At least three bodies buried in the rubble were retrieved by rescue workers by late night but there were fears that more bodies could still be there.
The balconies on the upper floors were also blown off and flames were leaping out from apartment on the fourth floor.
According to initial estimates, 40 to 50 apartments were destroyed and over 10 shops flattened.
Law-enforcement officials stayed away from the place for quite some time after the blast.
East Karachi DIG Aleem Jafri suspected that an explosive-laden vehicle might have been used.
“Over 150kg of high explosives laced with ball bearings were detonated by a time device,” he told Dawn, citing a report of the bomb disposal unit.
The blast left a four-foot deep crater of 10-foot circumference. An area of around 700 metres had been affected, the DIG said.
Police found an engine and some parts which indicated that a car had been used for the massive bombing. However, they didn’t find any particulars of the vehicle.
“About 45 deaths have occurred and as many as 135 wounded are in various hospitals. More than 70 patients have been admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital, 32 to Liaquat National Hospital, 17 to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, 12 to the JPMC and one to Civil Hospital,” Sindh Health Secretary Dr Suresh Kumar said.
Most of the injured were first taken to the nearby Patel Hospital.
The Aga Khan and Liaquat National Hospitals were overwhelmed by the injured needing immediate treatment.
JPMC Deputy Director Dr Seemin Jamali said 18 bodies had been brought there and a young boy, Qasim, was in critical condition.
Some relatives were seen frantically searching for their loved ones in different hospitals till late in the night.
Some bodies were charred beyond recognition, rescue workers said.
Several bodies had been taken to cold storages in different Imambargahs by midnight.
MOURNING: Various Shia organisations called for a strike on Monday to register their protest against the attack.
The Majlis Wehdat-i-Muslimeen endorsed the strike call and announced three days of mourning.
The Sindh government and Muttahida Qaumi Movement also announced a day of mourning on Monday.
The representative associations of traders, private schools and transport also announced a closure on Monday.
Call Dr. Zakir Naik….
Why??????
Shame on the killers those who do not consider the value of others life compare with their own ones!
What kind of animals are they? The animals are also better and united among themselves. They are not blood thirsty and brutal for their own ones. They are the followers of their own leader. What is going on with the rational and Allah’s (swt) greatest creature Human and their humanity. Every peace loving and all ethical persons are just acting as part of the audience! They are also the creator of Allah (swt) and Muslims by religion seems tired or, showing negligence to stop this kind of inhuman and anti-religion activities. Please stand up, and defend all the anti Islamic persons. Save the Muslim blood in the name of Allah (swt). Remember, if we do not do our own Imani part will be liable at the Day of Judgement. Once we stop the brotherly killing from our social life, will be able to save and strengthen our religious unity as well as internal/national integrity too.
Some one keeps harping some thing about Islam being the religion of peace and compassion.
If these were sunnis who killed my Shia brothers and sisters then I am ashamed to be a sunni. If these people were muslims, I am ashamed to be a muslim…..and whoever was responsible, I am ashamed to be a Pakistani.
Well you can go on being ashamed of everything you are…that isn’t going to change anything. This mentality will do no good. We need to stand up, take pride on who we are, and we are definitely not the ones who brought this carnage to our city and our country.
I don’t know the religious identities of the culprits, but I am sure they were humans. So are you ashamed of being a human being? Does it occur to you that our identity as human beings is bigger than our religious identity? I believe it is our close identification with our religious identities that causes tragedies such as the ones in Hyderabad (India) or Abbas Town Karachi.
Karachi Stock exchange is booming and setting up highest records.
Property prices are going up too.
“The ground and first floors in both the blocks were badly damaged, exposing the living rooms of apartments. Some flats were reduced to rubble.”
It was what insurance companies call “An Act of God”.
Usually not, but this one definitely was an ‘Act of God’.
“Quran (3:151) – “Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers” – Act of God.
this was not a sunni on shia attack… and my request to media people not to even try to show it as one!!… this is a barbaric attack from creatures not even worthy of being called humans, let alone muslims, on non-combat unarmed innocent people, who were enjoying a quiet weekend in their OWN homes with their OWN families. 200 flats have been destroyed. 200 families have been made homeless and the death toll has crossed 100 !!! we dont want any talks with these filthy creatures… the govt wants votes no matter how many people are killed and how much blood is shed as long a they can get their bloody votes….. please be united.. stand as one… no shia no sunni… one voice against extremism… its shias today, it will be sunnis tomorrow, then bralvi, then hanafi, then someone else… they wont leave a single one of us if we are not united…..
please save Pakistan which my forefathers fought for. for which my forefathers lost everything so I can live in peace….
Conspiracy to create to rift between urdu speaking shias and sunnis in karachi?
Unfortunately my friend, your forefathers wanted and did manage to divide the sons of our soil on the basis of faith and fear of the unknown. Welcome to the extreme version of that fear and superiority complex. All the very best to all Pak civilians to somehow eliminate this scourge of fanaticism yourselves.
“Several bodies had been taken to cold storages in different Imambargahs by midnight”
Since when did Imamargahs have cold storages?
Since religious extremism has been flourishing in the country. Should make you sit up and think!
Which country are you living in again?? They don’t have cold storages per say, it’s just a room with an airconditioner. In this whole aritcle, you could comprehend cold storages, very sad.
As You Sow so you reap! There is a culture of intolerence inherent in the Muslims. At the time of partition lakhs of hindus were targeted for no fault of theirs in pakistan Now its a time of a sect within the same religion.
Many childrens and womens got killed.
I don’t understand how merciless are the hearts of people who does it. And how it can be path to god.
Stop thinking. Only then you will ‘understand’.
At least that is what my religious teacher would tell me when I was a kid.
It is my observation that Shia Muslims are more progressive and prosperous compare to Sunni Muslims and this may be the reason that they are being attacked because when some savage mind cann’t compete you in knowledge, he tend to harm you.
So, you are indirectly blaming Sunnis for these attacks.
As a shia….I am convinced this act is not that of a sunni or a shia one. All who matter were informed. This is all a staged drama with the lives of innocent civilians who are cannon fodder in the name of political games being played before the elections, and the remote controls are in the hands of the real rulers/ masters not inside the country but elsewhere. This is a point which needs contemplation. All is very calculated and well planned.
May God protect the innocent from the fitna at hand (Amin).
What a tragedy in my beloved city, where we use to roam around fearlessly any time, i never knew among my hundreds of friends…….. who is shia and who is sunni? why now! for god”s sake spread Love NOT Hatred, which our religion and for that matter any religion in the world teaches. we are the follower’s of the great personalities whom Allah (swt) blessed with Tolerance come what may, May Allah rest the departed soul’s in peace, and give courage to the families and all Muslim’s to bear this GREAT loss. Aameen.
100% True my brother
Bingo!
U r right brother.
Only unemployed/ poverty ridden people can turn to terrorism..
Otherwise, who gets ‘Leaves’ from their offices for pursuing these acts?
@Dixit – I agree with you. In India Azim Premji Owner of Wipro is a Shia. Most representatives in educational field from Muslim communities are Shias. Shias hav no issues with Hindus also and are liberal and loving people. And Sunnis they are enrolled in madrassas, always cursing our Govt., Keeping big beard and small pajamas and give violent speeches on Friday. My home is in a muslim area in Delhi and we are tired of Friday speeches, Scolding Hindus 4 everything wrong in their life, US and Israel bashing and all. But what can we do, we have to live with it and when situation arises we have to fight and survive. we are going back to the dark ages