KARACHI: A bomb exploded outside an Imambargah in Orangi Town on Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring 13, minutes after an explosion on the route of the main mourning procession sowed fear in the city. Life had already come to standstill amid massive security arrangements for Chehlum anniversary commemorations.

Among the dead were two teenagers who were playing cricket.

The explosion on M.A. Jinnah Road happened before the start of the main procession, raising questions about security arrangements since the road was supposed to have been thoroughly searched by bomb experts.

In sector 11-E of Orangi Town, a bomb planted beside the wall of Azakhana-i-Kausar went off and partially damaged the wall. When police and rescue workers rushed to the place, another bomb planted on the traffic island facing the Imambargah exploded. Four people were killed and around 13, including a police officer and four volunteers, suffered injuries.

One of the victims -- 15-year-old Gul Zafran alias Sunny -- died before reaching the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

A critically injured Rabiul Awal Mazhar Hussain, 16, Irfan Rasheed, 50, and an unidentified young man died in operation theatre.

Police said Sunny and Rabiul Awal were playing cricket along with other boys while Irfan was a passer-by.

Dr Abdul Haq said 13 injured -- sub-inspector Mohammed Shafi and four volunteers of an ambulance service among them-- were brought to the hospital. Most of them were allowed to go home because their injuries were minor. The volunteers were shifted to a private hospital for further treatment. None of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries.

The explosion, caused by the 500-gram improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the Imambargah wall, was used as trap to bring police and passers-by to the place, DIG Javed Alam Odho told reporters.

The second bomb weighed about two to three kilograms and was packed with nuts and ball bearings.

The blasts were aimed at creating fear and chaos since no Majlis or procession was taking place there at that time.

A minor explosion occurred in Orangi Town, near Banaras Chowk. Police said two men on a motorcycle hurled a “cracker-like thing” at a playground, causing minor injuries to four boys playing there.

Minutes earlier, an explosion was heard on M.A. Jinnah Road but it did not cause any loss of life or damage to property. Police said the IED, weighing 500 grams, was attached to a signboard near Capri Cinema and detonated by remote control.

The explosion took place in a very high security area on the route of the main procession from Purani Numaish to Kharadar.

Shahid Hayat, police chief of Karachi, said it was an attempt to scare intending participants of the procession and divert attention of law enforcement agencies to carry out a major act of terror in another area. “But terrorists have failed to create fear. Checking has been enhanced and sweeping of the area will be conducted again,” he said.

Suspected terrorist killed in raid

Meanwhile, Pakistan Rangers Sindh claimed to have killed a suspected terrorist who they believed might have been involved in the Orangi blast.

According to Rangers spokesperson, the paramilitary force conducted an intelligence-guided raid on a ‘hideout of terrorists’ in Khairabad area of Manghopir on Tuesday evening. “On seeing Rangers, a terrorist later identified as Zohaib opened fire and was killed in the ensuing shootout.

“His involvement in today’s blast can not be ruled out,” the spokesman said. An SMG and material for making IEDs, including explosives, were found at the hideout.