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July 7, 2008
Two Killed, 40 Injured in Karachi Blasts
By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad
Two people were killed and more than 40 injured in a series of seven
low-intensity blasts that ripped through Karachi Monday, a day after
a powerful suicide attack killed 23, including 19 policemen, in
Islamabad, police and hospital sources said.
According to police officials, two people were killed in one of the
seven blasts while in six other blasts a total of more than 40
people were injured.
Four of the seven blasts occurred in areas concentrated with
Pashto-speaking people while others were in different market places.
The police officials said the bombs were placed on bicycles or at
garbage dumps.
All the seven blasts took place in a span of less than 40 minutes
with the first blasts at 7.15 p.m. at Mangupir area and the seventh
at 7.50 p.m. at crowded Hyderi Market.
"All the bombs were of low intensity that have caused injuries to
more than 40 persons including nine children of under 10 years of
age," a Karachi police official told IANS. He said it would be early
to say if there were any particular targets.
"It seems that someone has the agenda to destabilize Karachi and we
will soon make public the elements who are behind such acts," Rehman
Malik, advisor to prime minister, told reporters in Islamabad.
He said most blasts happened in areas where particular ethnic groups
live. "I believe that this is an effort to create disturbance in
Karachi,"
In the recent blasts in northern areas of Pakistan, either the
government officials or the security personnel were the targets and
blasts have been blamed on terrorists groups.
"It is difficult to say who is behind these attacks but we have
started investigations into the incidents," Sindh's police chief
told reporters.
He said that the police had not found any clue to the blasts so far.
Replying to a question, he said no one had claimed the
responsibility. "But we understand that this act has been committed
by an organized group."
Two explosions occurred here in Banaras area. One of the blasts
happened in a pile of garbage while the other one at a footpath near
Banaras Chowk, injuring 16 people. They were shifted to the Abbasi
Shaheed Hospital, sources said.
Several hundred people in the city of 16 million took to streets and
shouted slogans against the government and city administration which
is being run by the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM).
MQM chief Altaf Hussain, who rules the party from London, was quick
to condemn the incidents and called upon the citizens to remain calm
and peaceful.
However, reports said the enraged people set at least six vehicles
on fire and stoned the government buildings.
City administrator Mustafa Kamal appealed to the television channels
not to show the bodies and the injured who were in serious
condition.
"I am sorry to say that cameramen of different channels were
creating problems for rescue workers," he told reporters.
IANS
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July 7, 2008
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