The death toll in Sunday’s bomb blast in the Shia-dominated Abbas Town area of Karachi climbed to 50 with two people dying when the funeral procession of those killed in the explosion was fired upon on Monday evening. Earlier, ambulances ferrying the dead were also targeted.
According to eyewitnesses, the funeral procession came under heavy firing from all sides in the Sorab Koth area. At least 14 people — including Rangers personnel providing security — were injured in the firing. The procession was targeted en route elsewhere but faced casualties only in the Sorab Koth area.
In court
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu notice of the targeted attack on the Shia community in Karachi and posted the case for hearing on Wednesday. Last month, the Court had taken similar notice of the targeted killing of Hazara Shias in Quetta where nearly 200 members of the community have been killed this year alone.
Sunday’s blast ripped through two apartment blocks; rendering several people homeless. Through Sunday night and Monday, people were using every platform available to organise alternate accommodation and basic necessities for those whose homes had been destroyed in the explosion.
No organisation has claimed responsibility for the blast in a city that is no stranger to violence. As is invariably the case when tension escalates in Karachi, the provincial government banned pillion riding from Monday night and announced an operation against banned organisations.
