Suicide Bomb Victims Laid to Rest in Karachi
- 14 years ago
Thousands of mourners attended funerals on Tuesday of victims of a suicide bombing that killed 43 people in Karachi on Monday.
Coffins were carried through throngs of people paying their respects to the dead, killed during a procession at the climax of Ashura. It’s one of the most important events on the Shi'ite calendar.
Karachi’s provincial health secretary says that the death toll has risen to 43, while 52 people remain hospitalized.
The government blames militants for the Karachi attack – the third in recent days.
Religious scholars are urging people to remain peaceful.
Earlier, Pakistan's interior minister appealed for calm in Karachi, where shop-owners surveyed gutted premises a day after the attack-triggered riots.
[Rehman Malik, Interior Minister]: (Urdu)
"Please stay peaceful as you responded yesterday to the appeal of the President and the Prime Minister. As soon as we received information about some firing incidents, they were immediately dealt with. I expect you to remain calm in future also.”
Karachi police say initial investigations show the suicide bomber was between 18 and 20 years old, and that he used about 18 pounds of explosives.
The provincial government declared a public holiday after the bombing. Public transportation remains out of service and most shops are closed.
Coffins were carried through throngs of people paying their respects to the dead, killed during a procession at the climax of Ashura. It’s one of the most important events on the Shi'ite calendar.
Karachi’s provincial health secretary says that the death toll has risen to 43, while 52 people remain hospitalized.
The government blames militants for the Karachi attack – the third in recent days.
Religious scholars are urging people to remain peaceful.
Earlier, Pakistan's interior minister appealed for calm in Karachi, where shop-owners surveyed gutted premises a day after the attack-triggered riots.
[Rehman Malik, Interior Minister]: (Urdu)
"Please stay peaceful as you responded yesterday to the appeal of the President and the Prime Minister. As soon as we received information about some firing incidents, they were immediately dealt with. I expect you to remain calm in future also.”
Karachi police say initial investigations show the suicide bomber was between 18 and 20 years old, and that he used about 18 pounds of explosives.
The provincial government declared a public holiday after the bombing. Public transportation remains out of service and most shops are closed.