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.
The suicide attack on Ashura procession in Karachi is highly regrettable and I take this forum to express my heartfelt condolence with families of those embraced Shahdat. However, this time, our religious scholars and political leaders acted very wisely which obviously prevented the violence to spill over to other parts of the city. Albeit the loss of men and material runs into millions but the incident created a sense of unison among the Karachi people with many rushing towards major hospitals to donate their blood.
The act of bravery on part of the soldier who got hold of the suicide bomber is highly commendable and warrants gallantry award.
May Allah bless rest the departed souls into the eternal peace and grant courage to bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. I also pray for those sustained injuries in the blast for their immediate recovery.
@AMBER
Your argument at best, shows clear discontent to the current security situation in Pakistan. Should Govt. do more in tackling security threats? Yes off course, but in a city like Karachi with population of over 12 million, how exactly they will tackle suicide bombing which is a best weapon in Gorilla warfare. This does not mean that Govt. should simply sit idle, but one should be smart enough to understand the gravity of the situation and take security precautions and be more vigilant.
Act of mitigating security threats by canceling the Jaloos can save human life’s which should be the prime objective in any case. Plus most of Jaloos are not mandatory and more aligned with culture/tradition, so there is no religious obligation if they are canceled. Alternatively, govt. may want to limit number of people to certain threshold.
Its very sad and not a single religion give permission to kill innocent people. My full sympathy with people of Pakistan.
It’s certainly a sad day for whole Pakistan. In recent times with fragile security conditions and acute suicide bomb threats, this incident may be prevented by canceling the Jaloos altogether.
My condolences to families who loses their bread winner and child’s. Hope govt. of Pakistan will take some actions to save their civilians lives in future. I am really very sad to see everyday blasts in Pakistan.
My deepest sympathies with the families of the bereaved.
Calm and peace should be restored, Sunnis and Shias should work hand in hand to eliminate and eradicate these zalim’s.
Brother Saladin how can we forget that it was the Muslims, who were at the time reading Quran, namaz and the Kalimah of Rasool Allah dared to kill Imam Hussain. I am not surprised by this barbaric act against his followers.
I don’t know what Islam are these killers following?
should we shia be mute spectators? Does restraint applies only us and not to sunnis? Doesn’t a Shia’s life hold no value in this country?
Being a Muslim, We should follow the basic of Islam to Create Peace, Muhammad PBUH came in this world to create peace.
Strange to realise that Shia Muslims are safe in India, but not in Pakistan. Our tazia processions in Lucknow are famous for their Hindu/Muslim amity.
It is quite surprising that people are talking about the cancellation of Ashura procession instead of condemning these brutal murderers, which is completely senseless. They have not spared the mosques so you want people not to go in the mosques for normal prayers and Juma prayers? Does it make sense?
It is extremely sad to see the senseless loss of human lives in the name of religion.
Further the loss of livelihood for all those who lost their shops & business to the arsonist. When are we going to rise as a nation & say enough is enough.
Terrorism is not related to religion. terrorist are a group of people with their own agenda. Killing the innocent and creating chaos. Instead of burning the property and retaliating, our heart and prayers should be with the families of the deceased. May god give them the strength to bear the great loss. Taking an action is needed (justice delayed is justice denied). Strong action by the government is needed, but alas we are ruled by people for whom seat and power is the most important thing.
Comments for amber. Please madam try to be realistic here. Not only shia doctors but lots of sunni doctors lost their life and I personally know few of them. It’s not only shia community sunni community also faces these attacks. I suppose this is not the time to pinpoint shia and sunni. Don’t try to misguide people lady. I hardly believe people in this kind of situation could make such kind of remarks. I was under impression that education may change a persons thinking but it seems if a person does not want to change nothing can change him/her.
Canceling the Juloos is not an option, and will never be an option. Those whose lives were lost in the incident at M.A Jinnah road yesterday are Martyrs and lucky that they passed away while performing Azadari of our beloved Imam Hussain!
The cause will go on, and the Juloos will go on until the end of the world. We are the followers of Hussain Ibn Ali, we do not fear death.
It is a coward suicide attack into the procession of mourner. Moreover it is very shameful to our government that they could not give the security to their people. I feel sad and sorrow for the victim’s family and my sympathy is for them. But my mind always raised a question that how long this security collapse will happen in our country. There is no example for this brutal attack. May God give patience for the victim’s family.
Alas. First of, these processions will never be stopped or canceled. As was shown by the mourners on Monday, nothing can stop these supporters of Imam Hussain A.S. from remembering the sacrifice our Imam made and what was done by the Yazidi lashker to the family of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Perhaps, others do not understand that the reason Shias live is to remember the tragedy that took place 1400 years ago. The martyrs of this incident and their families will be rewarded by the Imam.
Secondly about the aftermath. According to quite a few eye witnesses, most of the mob that burned down the streets and hundreds of shops were not part of the procession. They were those who come to watch the procession, for whatever reason but to mourn.
Mourners do not carry gasoline with them. Those who had their family affected by the blast were either busy in finding their lost ones or taking them to the nearest hospitals. A big number of mourners were still part of the procession and who brought the procession to its planned destination.
Today I mourn with those who lost their families and loved ones in this tragic incident. We cannot imagine the pain this will leave them with. I pray that Allah help them come out of this one day. I also believe that their lost ones would have been welcomed with open arms by the Imam Himself to the greatest of Heavens.
Ashoora is over, Sham-e-Ghariban is over.
Now we have dead’s, injured, its sure another Karbala.
My Condolences to the families at loss.
Not sure if banning/canceling such event is a solution, every public gathering is a target, markets, majlis, bus stops etc. I agree with one of the comments below, submitting and staying in means their win. Sooner or later, people who support such movements will realize it is achieving no cause, no form of Islam can be imposed which such barbaric acts.
We are not only fighting militants that have no respect for religion or beliefs, but who have no respect for humanity. Shame on you militants who call yourselves Muslims, you are nowhere near Islam.
People do you remember what Imam Hussain(a.s) said:
“Never Bow Down To The Oppression”
The cause and Juloos will continue…people can do what ever they want.
May maula Imam-e-Zamana(a.s) help us.
How these guys can even think of procession in these situations.
A suicide bombing is a work of the devil which has unfortunately penetrated amoung the ill-educated Muslims who have nothing else to do but to follow the devils who call themselves the soldiers of Islam (Taliban, freedom fighters, jihadis). Islam teaches peace and tranquility. If it taught what these people teach, there would only be few Muslims 1400 yrs back and this religion of Allah wouldn’t have made such high numbers. Allah knows best but what I believe is, all such people should be destroyed before they take over the whole country. I feel sorry for all the dead and pray we are all safe from the devils disciples.
Ameen.
Please heartiest condolences to all the families suffering. Let’s all come out again and let these barbarians know that we as a public do not tolerate this. Govt. and public should condemn at all level and go after them as a united force.
Oh people! For how much long will you let yourself be killed by these terrorists.
It’s time to stand up and get rid of the plagues once and for all otherwise their will be no one left alive to even mourn the dead. It’s time.
Speak up or else you might have this situation as described by the poet for Nazis massacring everyone in Europe.
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.