Dawn.com invites its readers to share eye-witness accounts and photographs from the incident.
An explosion occurred on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah road on Monday during a Shia procession commemorating Ashura.
For the city of lights, it’s the third blast in three days and the latest in a series of blasts that have taken place during the holy month of Muharram.
Photographs can be sent at photos@dawn.com
*In response to Dawn.com’s forum, an eyewitness, Waheed Zuberi, shares his photographs from the explosion during the Ashura procession on M.A. Jinnah Road on Monday afternoon.
It is very tragic. Every time I open your site I come across major suicide bombing killing scores of innocents. My heart bleeds for you. One thing is sure you the masses can only stop this menace. I read one of the commentators was wondering, How a Muslim can kill Muslims? Please for God’s sake change this attitude. Please ask yourself, How a human being can kill so many people. Do not attach religion to these people. If you do so you would not win this war.
I am an eye witness of the event. I was sitting at some distance at the opposite direction of the jaloos.
I was sitting as was tired walking all the way from Kharadar towards the jaloos. It was five minute from the time we had sat on the footpath, bomb exploded with a loud sound, it was white smoke all over.
I did not see a single Aalam going down. What I saw was, people walking out from smoke carrying the tazias – not even running.
I saw people carrying the taboot from the spot where the bomb was exploded. Not hurt at all. Mashallah
Once again innocent peoples are targeted. I think every human being regard less of what ever their religion and which ever their sect; they would strongly condemned this kind of attack.
I agree with Hasan. This was always a possibility. No arrangements are fool proof esp with suicide bombers in a procession. The bomb blast was bad enough and then there was firing, arson & looting. Violent targeting of security and rescue vehicles was particularly irresponsible as was the usual burning of buses. The presence of arms and armaments amongst public ensures that similar events will occur repeatedly. No sect will accept denial of its procession. In fact even this mauled bombed procession continued with some change in route which while being an important statement of determination right may have placed others at risk. Organisers need to reflect on the dangers they bring to participants and the city at large besides the crippling economic damage.
I do not think that the burning of the cars, shops etc could have been the act of the angry mob. How swiftly the things were set on fire. The entire markets are reportedly burnt to ashes. This is not a work of a common man. It is a well thought out sabotage plan. Not only the families of the dead ones are suffering but also those that are killed economically are suffering heavily.
It about time that Pakistani public take their stand against these acts of violence killing innocent civilians. It was a sad day in Pakistanis history, 30 people lost their lives and as a result 450 shops were burned to ashes marking yet another loss to Pakistan already fragile economy. It’s time to stop and think ponder about what our future will be like, it time to plan and set targets.
Kazmi & Aysha
I totally agree with the comments made by Kazmi and Aysha
Jaloos shall not be cancelled – rather I should say no normal proceeding of our life should be cancelled or posponed.
If we recall the event of Karbala, Imam Hussain did not gave bait to Yazid to save his and his family life, rather sacrificed their life for continuity of Islam.
Aysha —
Rightly said “just live and let live”
I do agree as country in war situation, need to realize stop all gathering where such situation may be happening or very difficult to manage scrutiny measures. No doubt security people put their 100% effort to control such terror attack, infact it is very difficult or almost impossible to stop such terror attack. I believe these people are not Pakistani or Muslim too.
Thank you to all Sunni brother from the blog and my friends who called up for condolences.
It is the time to stand together against the Yazid. Standing together does not mean violence.
My heart is crying for people who have lost their life.
Please recite Surah Fatih for all the Shaheeds
It is heart wrenching to see such a barbaric crime in the city of lights. One thing should be crystal clear that these culprits cannot be Muslims in true spirit. This is a colossal loss not only to religious groups who are striving hard to bring a modicum of normalcy between different sects but also to the global image of country.
Every sane person must condemn these types of brutal act.
The only answer is: a secular Pakistan. Religion is a personal matter. This realization will take decades of education. In the meantime, the blood will flow. very sad.
The shocking thing was that as the police mobiles left the place whole security of the procession was collapsed. Scouts working with the rescue workers and people turning into violent mob. The situation was such that the young men could not be controlled. For the future we must prepare ourselves for such incidents and there must be special forces to control the security situation. I suggest the scouts and volunteers of Muharram should be trained and upgrade professionally.
@SALADIN A
Your reasoning does not seem very well thought out. Since you cannot conceive of Muslims doing it, it must have been foreigners, right?
People keep dying and we refuse to recognize the enemy within!
@HASAN
Completely agree. No point in making it easy for militants to attack people in large numbers.
@DUREEN and many others
Why the same old tripe about “all Muslims”. There are non-Muslims in this country as well and our rhetoric should be inclusive of them rather than of the non-existent ummah!
My condolence and sympathy to the families of those who lost there lives in this brutal attack.
Law enforcement agencies have a critical role in ensuring the security of ashura procession. However it is almost impossible to identify a suicide attacker among thousands of mourners. It is indeed reported by a news channel that the bomber was stopped by a scout but he blew himself before he could have brought down. Police shouldn’t be blamed blindly always.
The reaction after the blast however was predictable and expected. Hundreds of shops were burnt, cars were torched and a building was also burnt putting the lives of those residing in the building on stake. Ofcourse, our Shia brothers were not involved in any of these activities as they were helping those who were wounded. These activities are most likely done by the same groups involved in bombing. It is important to note that the shops were looted first and then burnt. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to at least strictly resist and stop these terror activities as there is no reason for burning other’s properties.
It is sad to admit that we haven’t done enough to prepare ourselves for these attacks and are also not able to stop the aftermaths of a coward attack like this.
The death toll should be counted as physical deaths + psychological deaths of those who lost everything as an outcome of these terror activities.
Extremely sad. No words to express the grief. People who have their loved ones lost and you are a part of the procession and who are on a mission to take the jaloos to its destination and who are in awe and shock of the blast it self, can they get up and start burning vehicles and buildings? Food for thought!!
However, such processions have been a part of Islamic Shia culture since centuries. This has always been the most non violent form of protest against tyranny in the world which is always made a target of violence.
We can raise our hands towards Allah and ask Him for mercy. Like we say in all our Namaz.
Inna Lilaha Wa inna Ilahay Rajeon, May Allah bless their souls and give strength to their families and friends to bear this loss. Those who are doing this no other but the generations of very persons, who killed our Imam Hussain (A.S) for those back then killing an innocent Men, Women, kids or old was nothing and still is nothing.
They are working very hard to divide Muslims into many sectors. However, these enemies tend to forget that Muharam is for all Muslims. The entire Islamic ummah marks this sad occasion. These enemies are attacking mosques, shops, malls, etc. etc. All Muslims condemn these heinous crimes. This is the time that Muslims should show patience and unity.
First of all my deepest condolences and sympathies to all families whose sons and daughters were targeted in this tragic atrocity.
Being a Muslim who have followed Shia teachings all his life, I just want to clear one thing to all those who have mentioned in comments below, that such processions and events should have been canceled amid the fear that terrorist will strike. If the administration or general public do this, even for once, wouldn’t it be seen that we, as a society, have given up against the demands of these terrorists? Today, if you cancel Muharram procession, tomorrow you will be thinking of cancelling other events
In my opinion if someone is supporting such cancellation of events, then he/she is doing nothing but supporting the terrorist aims, unintentionally. We will not change our way of life, we will not change our culture and daily routines and will not definitely will not bow to terrorists demands.
Terrorism is a global menace and Pakistan, along with other nations, is also paying the price of whatever it has done in the past. But now it’s the high time to be united against these enemies.
Saladin and Dureen, what would it take to see the reality of who is doing this in Pakistan. No other society and religion truly believe in life after death any more, Islam is the only one that drives its followers to this, and I am sure the suicidal was not from the faction of it.
– Peace
Let us pray for all those who lost their lives in Karachi. I have to say that we need to become Pakistani first. Love each other and respect each other religious beliefs/faith what ever it may be. True teaching of Islam “Humanity First”
Who ever is teaching hatred should but dealt with iron fist. We must stand together to get rid of all these Jiahdis from our mother land.
It is really sad that so many innocent people lost their lives. This bloodshed has to stop, but how?
Very sad news. My heart is weeping blood tears. Very shocking incident. I am really very sad for the People who have lost their loved ones as these people who call themself a human are actually worse then any thing, No one know who is behind this thing but I would say that if it whoever they are they are not a human and they have no believe in God. My sympathy is with the families who have lost the loved ones. We need to get our self all the people in Pakistan and around the world and get rid of these hand full of bad peoples.
Well I think that’s what people want that we should stop taking out these processions. I know it sounds a bit emotional but this should not stop.
Our Prophet and his family , his grand son Hazrat Imam Hussain , he did not give up so what we can do is self protection. I have seen in previous years the organizers or majalis they did their security on their own. like boy scouts etc.
I am deeply sad and my condolences to those families who lost their loved ones.
Actually, they are trying to create hatred among Sunni and Shia factions to create sectarian violence and to kill as many people as they can. Their main is to destabilize Pakistan. We all know our enemies and must root them out.