A string of bombings in Karachi and Quetta on Tuesday once again raised fears for a peaceful general election as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) closed its election offices in Karachi after two supporters were killed and 18 others were seriously injured in a motorcycle bombing near an election camp of the party, while at least four people were killed and 25 others sustained injuries after four successive blasts rocked Quetta within a short span of time.
KARACHI BOMBING:
The bombing in Karachi was carried out near an MQM election camp at People’s Chowrangi.
Police said the attack was caused by an explosive device planted in a motorcycle. Several people were injured and all nearby shops shut down in the wake of fear caused by the explosion. Several vehicles near the bomb site were damaged while windows of nearby buildings were also broken by the impact of the blast. Five of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
MQM SHUTS DOWN ELECTION OFFICES
Reacting strongly to the killing of his party workers, MQM Chairman Altaf Hussain ordered party workers to shut down their election offices in view of imminent terror threats.
Altaf said that who would gather the courage to come out of their homes on election day to vote in such a hostile situation. He said that the caretaker government had failed in maintaining law and order and there was no hope for polling in a peaceful environment.
Awami National Party Sindh President Shahi Syed voiced similar concerns and said the government had failed in providing security to the people. He condemned the bombing at the MQM election camp and said the government and Election Commission should ensure security to all political parties.
QUETTA BOMBINGS:
In Quetta, the first blast was reported from the Gawalmandi area, the second explosion ripped through Jinnah Town, while the third one hit Gordat Singh area, which has long history of sectarian and ethnic violence. The police said that five people were injured in Gawalmandi.
A fourth explosion that struck near Khuda-e-Dad Chowk in Nechari Colony within an hour of three earlier back-to-back blasts left at least four people, including an Frontier Corps personnel dead and 12 others injured. Police said that heavy shooting was reported from the area after the blast, apparently carried out by a suicide bomber. A Frontier Corps checkpost was the target of the suicide attack.
The Nechari area plunged into darkness following the blast, which damaged several power transmission lines.