KARACHI  - At least a dozen people including law enforcers and Waqt News reporter and cameraman were wounded in two back-to-back blasts outside Imambargah Abul Fazal near Pahar Gang area here on Wednesday.
The blast took place in the jurisdiction of Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan Police Station.
In the first blast which went off outside the Imambargah, two people including an eight-year-old boy, Aftab, and a bystander, Naveed, were wounded and taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The blast damaged the walls of Imambargah and a car. Following the blast, law enforcers, rescuers of welfare organisations, experts of bomb disposal squad and media personnel rushed to the spot. DSP Iftikhar Lodhi, when contacted, said police were engaged in investigation at the crime scene and experts of BDS were busy in the search operation when another bomb exploded with a loud bang. He said the Imambargah was packed with people like other Imambargahs of the city. The first blast was not as harmful as the second one proved. The people in large number had gathered there to have a look on the scene of the first blast, when another blast went off. Following the second blast four journalists including a reporter and a cameraman of Waqt News, two Rangers, two policemen and two spectators were wounded and taken to the hospital.
Rangers personnel wounded in the blast were taken to CMH Karachi while rest of the victims were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that 9 people including journalists were brought to hospital and declared the condition of four victims critical.
BDS experts said both bombs were planted and exploded with a remote-controlled device. The bombs were carrying half kilogram of explosive with pellets. Both the bombs were planted at the distance of nearly 15 feet with each other.
Meanwhile, militants riding a motorbike threw a hand-grenade outside Imambargah Mustawafi located at Sector 11/B, North Karachi injuring on duty police guards Mushtaq and Yousaf.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad and Sindh Chief Minister have condemned the blasts and directed IG police to submit a report in this regard.