Six injured in blast at religious gathering

karachi — The Sindh police say a Saturday night blast targeting a religious gathering of an ethnic party has wounded six people in the southern port city of Karachi.

Saturday night’s blast took place as hundreds of supporters of a faction of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were present in the neighbourhood of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

No one has claimed responsibility and authorities say all of the wounded are listed in stable condition.

Initial reports suggested that it was caused by a cracker, DIG East Aamir Farooqi told reporters at the site of the blast.

Later, the Karachi East SP confirmed that motorcyclists threw a cracker at the gathering.

According to sources, 250 to 300 grammes of gunpowder was used in the explosive device.

Police, Rangers and ambulances shifted the injured to hospitals. Bomb disposal squad officials also reached the spot to collect forensic evidence.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Sindh Dr Kaleem Imam has sought a report from the Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) East into the incident.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement party represents the Urduspeaking population and its two factions have an uneasy relationship with each other.

Later, talking to media, MQM leader Khwaja Izhar-ul-Hassan said that he was at the stage along with senior MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other members of party’s coordination committee at the time of the blast.

The gathering was being held at a congested locality, in the Perfume Chowk area, he added.

MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari called the attack ‘religious and political’ terrorism.