Funeral prayers of Karachi bus attack victims offered
At least 44 people were shot dead inside a bus near Karachi's Safoora Chowrangi.
KARACHI (Dunya News / AFP) - Funeral prayers of 44 victims of Karachi bus attack have been offered at Al-Azhar Garden in Karachi today (Thursday). Thousands of people including members of Ismaili community and representatives of political parties attended the funeral prayers.
On the occasion, strict security arrangements were in place. The victims will be laid to rest in Al-Noor graveyard in Sakhi Hassan.
Pistol-wielding gunmen in Karachi stormed a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community Wednesday, killing at least 44 and injuring more than ten.
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A national day of mourning is being observed across Pakistan today whereas the national flag is flying at half mast.
Paramilitary Rangers conducted a series of targeted raids in Sohrab Goth and Safoora Goth neighbourhoods after the attack and arrested 18 suspects, the Rangers said in a statement, giving no further details.
The killings were also condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who arrived in the city Wednesday evening and chaired a high-level meeting involving the country s army chief General Raheel Sharif and other senior officials.
General Sharif, meanwhile, cancelled a pre-scheduled trip to Sri Lanka.
"No effort will be spared to apprehend and punish perpetrators of this terrorist act, their abettors and backers," the army chief said in a telephone conversation with the Ismaili spiritual leader.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack, but urged Islamabad to "take swift measures aimed at effective protection of religious minorities".
