Six political activists and three law enforcement personnel among those killed in violence in Karachi, Noshki and Karak
In continuing incidents of violence that threaten holding of the general election on May 11, at least 12 more people, including six political workers and four personnel of law enforcement agencies, were killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi, Balochistan’s Noshki district and Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, while several other were left seriously injured.
KARACHI BOMBING
At least five supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were killed and 13 others wounded when a blast ripped through the party’s election office in the Nusrat Bhutto Colony area on Thursday night. This is the second bomb attack on the MQM in as many days. Three party workers were killed in the first bombing targeting the party’s election office at People’s Chowrangi.
Initial reports suggested that the bomb was planted in a motorcycle near the MQM election office. The explosion damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. Sources said that three brothers were among the five deceased.
MQM CALLS FOR STRIKE
Reacting strongly to the bomb attack, the MQM Coordination Committee has postponed its election rally in Nawab Shah scheduled for today (Friday) until Saturday, and appealed to traders, transporters and citizens to join the party in mourning the loss of its party workers and condemning the attacks on political parties in a Sindh-wide strike.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Speaking to a media outlet, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said the militants had targeted the MQM as they vowed to do so in the past.
In nearby Hyderabad, a Rangers personnel was killed when unidentified men attacked the Rangers Headquarters in the city.
BALOCHISTAN ATTACK
In Balochistan’s Noshki area, one person was killed and another was injured in a hand grenade attack on the election office of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Umar Gorgach, who is also a former federal minister.
Three persons were also killed in various parts of the volatile province while an Election Commission office was attacked in Kalat.
According to reports, the party workers were sitting in the office in the main Noshki bazaar when two persons riding a motorcycle threw a hand grenade on them, killing one person instantly.
Furthermore, unidentified attackers threw a hand grenade in the premises of an Election Commission office in Kalat. The grenade landed with a huge blast but caused no damage.
Moreover, unknown persons gunned down a police constable in a shooting on a Chamalang-bound passenger wagon in Loralai town.
In Awaran district, two unidentified motorcyclists killed a man while another was left injured with multiple bullet wounds.
ENCOUNTER IN KARAK
A bloody encounter between militants and police in Karak left two police officials and four militants dead while three policemen were injured, police said.
On a tip-off about the presence of militants in the Teri area in Banda Daudshah tehsil, the police started a search operation. When the militants saw the police party, they started indiscriminate firing. The police retaliated and in the ensuing encounter that continued for several hours, ASI Khurshid Khan, Constable Ashraf Zahid and four of the militants were killed.
PARACHINAR ATTACK
In Parachinar, a man was killed and three more were injured when a tractor collided with an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the roadside.