Pakistan: 6 wounded in blast in religious gathering

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - At least six people were wounded in an explosion during a religious gathering in southern port city of Karachi, local media reported on Sunday.

The blast took place at a milad gathering organized by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi late Saturday night, Geo News, a local broadcaster reported.

Khalid Maqbool, Federal Minister for Information Technology, and Khawaja Izharul Hassan, a senior party official, who were also present in the gathering narrowly escaped the blast, Faisal Sabzwari, MQM-P leader told reporters.

"Terrorists hurled the explosive when the top party officials arrived in the gathering," said Faisal Sabzwari.

Six party workers including federal minister's coordinator were injured in the blast, he added.

Police said attackers hurled a home-made explosive, or a cracker bomb, near the venue of the gathering and fled the scene.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Karachi, the country's most populous city and the commercial capital, has long been notorious for sectarian and political violence and gang wars that have killed thousands over the last three decades.

However, the security forces have managed to reduce the level of violence following a military-backed operation launched in 2013 in the metropolis.