KARACHI: At least eight people were injured in a large blast targeting an electoral office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) near Karachi’s crowded Burns Road area on Thursday night, DawnNews reported.

The MQM’s political office, set up for election campaigning in the city’s NA-250 constituency, was the target of the terrorists. Several party activists are among the injured who were shifted to the nearby Civil Hospital.

Security and law enforcement forces cordoned off the area which was engulfed with fear after the bombing.

DIG South District Amir Sheikh told a private TV channel that the bomb exploded in ablution room of a nearby Sunni Muslim mosque. DSP Preedy Police Station Zamir Abbasi told Dawn.com the blast was carried out through a time-device and around two to three kilos of explosives was used in it.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility of the attack. Speaking to Dawn.com via telephone from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said the proscribed organisation has carried out the attack on MQM.

The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had vowed to target secular political forces of the country, naming Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and MQM.

The banned outfit had also claimed responsibilities of the last week’s attacks.

More than 60 people have already been killed in militant attacks targeting electoral campaigning of PPP, MQM and ANP, across the country since April 11.

Reiterating their stance of targeting the said parties for having secular views, the TTP spokesman, in a video message earlier today had vowed to carry on with the targeted attacks.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the Taliban attack saying his party will not bow down to terrorists and will carry on with their election campaign for the coming polls.

The historic May 11 polls will witness the first ever democratic transition of power in Pakistan.