Karachi, Pakistan car bombing kills at least 45 people

Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, mourns as relatives prepare to bury 45 people killed in a sectarian bombing

13:47 05 March 2013

At least 45 people were killed in a car bombing in Karachi on Sunday night. A powerful car bomb exploded outside a mosque as Maghrib prayers were drawing to a close just before 7pm. The explosion has wounded at least 140 people and damaged two apartment blocks. 

So far, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the recent attack however, suspicion is likely to fall on Sunni militant groups. 

 

Senior politicians are quick to condemn the violence against Karachi residents and President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered a report into the incident. He also expressed sympathy with the bereaved families. 

 

This isn’t the first time that violence happened in Karachi. Last year, more than 400 people died in various sectarian attacks. For this reason, Pakistan’s Supreme Court instructed authorities to give more protection to Shia Muslims last month.  

 

Activists consider 2012 as the worst year in living memory for attacks on Pakistan’s Shia community. However, this year is shaping up to be the worse as parliament is due to be dissolved this month.