Several cities in Sindh including Shikarpur, Hyderabad and Larkana are mourning the blast at a shrine in interior Sindh that killed four and left at least 12 injured on Monday.
According to reports, angry demonstrators protested against the incident and resorted to aerial firing in several areas of Hyderabad, including Qasimabad and Hussainabad.
Situation turned tense in Larkana as well, and Rangers and police were deployed. The Hussaini Party and other religious organisations also called for a strike today (Wednesday).
On Monday, a blast tore through Dargah Pir Hajan Shah Huzoori in Marri village near Shikarpur when a large number of devotees were visiting the shrine. Witnesses said that an unidentified man was spotted running away after leaving a suspicious bag at the scene but not a lot could be done since the bomb went off the next moment.
“It was sudden and we could not find him after the blast,” an injured devotee said.
Sources said that Syed Hajan Shah, the Gaddi Nasheen – a living descendant of the saint as well as the custodian of the shrine – was also among the critically injured. He was shifted to Larkana for medical treatment.
Later, the deputy commissioner Shikarpur told reporters that Shah would be moved to Karachi for treatment.
Angry devotees and local residents took to streets while violent protestors also broke out in parts of Shikarpur.
“Protestors blocked the National Highway and the railway track after the incident. They were chanting slogans against the government demanding immediate justice,” sources said.