Asia-Pacific

30 killed in suicide attack in Pakistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-29 09:10

Police vehicles are set ablaze by an angry mob at the site of a suicide bomb attack on a procession of Shit'ite Muslims commemorating Ashura in Karachi December 28, 2009.[Agencies]

ISLAMABAD: At least 30 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on religious procession of Shiite Muslims in the south Pakistani city of Karachi on Monday, a senior official said.

Secretary of Sindh Province Hashim Raza Zaidi confirmed that 30 people were killed in the attack. Officials said that up to 50 people were injured in the deadly attack.

Angry mob attacked government buildings, markets, banks and torched vehicles in the Karachi after the deadly suicide attack on the Shia mourning march, police said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, political and religious leaders appealed all sections of society for calm and restraint and urged the people of Karachi not to be provoked by the "most reprehensible act of terror."

In a statement the president said that the fanatics wanted to provoke frenzy and riots to achieve their designs and called upon the people not to fall into their trap.

A deliberate attempt seems to be afoot by the extremists to turn the fight against militants into a sectarian clash and make the people fight against one another, he said.

"These are challenging times and we have to guard against such attempts by using force against extremists and militants on the one hand and exhibiting wisdom and patience on the other," said the president.

Witnesses said that firing was reported from different areas of Karachi after the attack and the police also used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.

Television pictures showed a big cloud of smoke over the scene and television reporters said angry worshippers attacked media vehicles and police mobiles.

Residents stand near the site of a bomb blast, which took place during a procession of Shi'ite Muslims, in Karachi December 26, 2009. [Agencies]

The Shia march was taken out of Nishtar Park and was on way to head to the final destination. The organizers decided to continue procession despite the blast. They appealed to the mourners to be peaceful.

It is the third bomb blast in Karachi in three days. Scores of peoples were injured in the two blasts on Saturday and Sunday, according to the police.

Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal asked the citizens to remain peaceful and do not show any reaction. He expressed shock over attacks on property and vehicles after the blast. He said that the blast was aimed at destroying peace of the city.

During the first Muslim month of Muharram, Shiites across the world mourn the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussain in the Iraqi city of Kerbala in the year 680.

Pakistan's security forces have been on high alert as Muslims are marking the holy day of Ashura, the Shia calendar's biggest event.

On Sunday evening at least 15 people, including mourners and policemen, were killed and over 100 injured when a suicide bomber ripped through a Muharram procession near a Shia mosque in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.