Car Bomb Explosion at Karachi Election Office Kills 10, Injures Dozens

A car bomb went off near the Awami National Party office in Mominabad area, Karachi, killing at least 10 people, and injuring dozens of others on Friday, according to reports.

Police spokesman, Imran Shaukat, said that the car bomb was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) planted in a Suzuki car.

Officials reported that the target of the attack was the local candidate of secular Awami National Party, Bashir Jan, as the explosion occurred just minutes before the ANP candidate was about to give a speech. Although, He escaped the attack unhurt.

Unfortunately, Dr. Azizuddin Shamezai, brother to late cleric Mufti Nizamuddin Shamezai, was in his clinic when the explosion took out the ANP office. His body has been recovered amongst the dead.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan claimed responsibility for the attack in telephone to AP news agency from an undisclosed location.

Just on Thursday, five people were killed in a similar fashion outside the office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement party (MQM), which makes Friday attack the second to hit the city within 24 hours.

For some time now, the Taliban has been issuing and implementing its threats towards both parties for backing military operations against its people.

The ANP and MQM were coalition partners in the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party-led government, which will see the national polls pass power to one through the ballot box, come May 11.