Chowrangi

Karachi , the city of lights, is in fire again. Death and destruction is something of a norm for karachities, however, the date and venue of this carnage left everyone in shock and disbelief. On the day when muslims across the country were celebrating birth of Prophet (saw), a bomb went off in a ceremony held to mark “jashn-e-maulood-e-Nabi (saw)” at Nishtar Park , Karachi.

The bomb went off the stage when participants were engaged in maghrib prayers. According to a statement from law enforcement agencies, it was a suicide attack and the bomber was in the second row during the prayers.

There was stampede and angry crowed pelted stones, damaged and torched vehicles and there was complete chaos in a vast area around the park which is near the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

According to latest reports, at least 56 people were killed and more than 100 are injured. Amongst the dead are chief of Ahl-as-sunnat and prominent social figure Haji Hanif Billio, chief of Sunni Tehreek Iftikhar Bhatti, sunni tehreek’s Abbass Qadri and Akram Qadri and Jamiat-ulema-e-Pakistan’s leader and former MPA Hafiz Taqi.

All major hospitals of the city including Jinnah Hospital, Civil Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital and Abbassi Shaheed Hospital were flooded with injured and dead. There were incident of riots at hospitals were relatives and followers of dead and injured lost their tempers due to grief and anger. According to TV reports, the death toll will raise due to critical nature of injuries

MQM chief Altaf Hussain announced 3 day mourning by MQM . Sindh government also announced 3 days of mourning. Educational institutions of the province will be closed for 3 days.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Ameer Jamat-e-Islami, rejected the idea of suicide bombing. He claimed it to be a remote controlled bomb. It is interesting to note that the car of Allama Hasan Turabi, a shia leader, was attacked by a remote controlled bomb in Guslhan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.

Recently, Karachi has suffered another tragedy on Sunday when at least 30 women and children were trampled and crushed to death in a stampede at a mosque where about 20,000 worshippers had gathered for prayers to mark the month of the Prophet (saw)’s birth.

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Taliban of Punjab Police - March 3rd, 2010
• Chile Earthquake, Hawaii Tsunami and Social Media - February 28th, 2010
• President Zardari apologized for childbirth in rickshaw - February 26th, 2010
• Reason of Traffic Jams in Karachi - February 19th, 2010
• Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Top Most Taliban Leader Caught in Karachi - February 16th, 2010
• PTCL Launches Largest Data Center of Pakistan - February 15th, 2010
• Reflections On Twin Blasts in Karachi - February 6th, 2010
• Aafia Siddiqui convicted, may be sentenced for 60 years - February 4th, 2010
• Dawn News going down the Drain? - January 30th, 2010
• Has Karachi Gone To Dogs? - January 27th, 2010