Bomb Blast in Karachi 135 dead 545 injured
The procession led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto upon her return to the country was attacked by suicide bombers on Thursday night after two powerful blasts rocked the slow-moving motorcade edging its way past the Karsaz bridge, on Sharea Faisal that killed over 135 and wounded more than 545 people.
Tension prevailed all over the city on Friday morning and public transport kept off road due to which there was skeleton staff in OPPL today (19th Oct).
We have advised all our staff members to stay away from area that have political activities.
All OPPL colleagues are safe.
Press Release
KARACHI, Oct 19: Two massive blasts rocked former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto's motorcade in Karachi early on Friday morning, killing at least 135 people and injuring over 545 others.The blasts, which reports indicate were suicide attacks, took place a few feet away from Bhutto's convoy.
Over 135 participants of a procession led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto upon her return to the country lost their lives on Thursday night after two powerful blasts rocked the slow-moving motorcade edging its way past the Karsaz bridge, on Sharea Faisal.At least 545 people were injured in the explosions.
Former FIA chief Rahman Malik told a private television channel that the explosions clearly targated Ms Benazir’s specially-built vehicle. He added that many top PPP leaders were injured.
Sources told Dawn that Ms Benazir was immediately taken to the Bilawal House before she could reach the Quaid’s Mausoleum where she was scheduled to address a waiting crowd. She was resting in the bullet-proof vehicle’s compartment when the blasts took place.
A Dawn reporter saw a severed head at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, fuelling speculation that the blasts were caused by a suicide bomber.
An ARY television channel cameraman was among the over 125 dead in the explosion. Some foreigners standing atop Ms Benazir’s vehicle were also injured.
Sources told Dawn that a man came running to Ms Benazir’s vehicle shouting “bomb, bomb”, causing the participants of the rally to panic. He blew up explosives as he neared the vehicle. The explosion caused the petrol tank of a nearby vehicle to explode, leaving a police van damaged.