A bomb blast in Karachi’s Saddar late on Thursday killed one person and injured 13 others.
The explosion near United Bakery caused substantive damage to property, including vehicles, in the area.
Footage from the site showed a vehicle belonging to the Pakistan Coast Guards was also damaged in the explosion. Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar informed Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that an improvised explosive device (IED) was used, said the latter’s spokesperson in a statement.
According to the preliminary probe report, it appeared that the IED was attached to a motorbike, the IGP was quoted as saying. Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that the nature of the explosion was being determined.
DIG South Sharjeel Kharal, in a media talk, said, “According to the information received yet, the device went off at 11:20 pm. As of right now, I do not think that any institution or a particular vehicle was the target.”
“As far as casualties are concerned, one [person] whose name was Mohammad Umar s/o Siddique and who was a common man, has been reportedly martyred. His age was around 25 years,” he said.
Shah took notice of the incident and sought a report from the city police chief and Karachi commissioner while also declaring an emergency at two nearby hospitals, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and Karachi Civil Hospital.
A team of the Bomb Disposal Squad as well as officials of the police’s Counter-Terrorism Department reached the site of the blast to conduct an investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed regret over the incident and extended condolences to the deceased’s family.
He prayed for the quick recovery of the injured and instructed CM Shah to provide the best medical care to them. The prime minister said “terrorism will be wiped out” working in conjunction with provincial governments.
