Thousands mourn Pakistan bomb victims

Local Editor, 29-12-2009




Pakistan's financial capital Karachi shut down Tuesday to mourn at least 43 people martyred in a suicide bombing on Monday at a procession of worshippers marking Ashura's commemoration. "The death toll has risen to 43 -- 41 bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital and two others to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre," police surgeon Jagdish Kumar told AFP.
Three women and three children were among the dead, Kumar added.

Preparations to bury the dead were in progress with funeral prayers scheduled later Tuesday.
Muslims, particularly Shiites, mark Ashura every 10th of the Hijri month of Muharram to remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (A.S.) the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 1400 years ago.
Pakistan had deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces, and put the army on standby to protect mass processions worshippers mourning the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein (A.S.). 

Sindh police chief Salahuddin Babar Khattak said a special investigation team had been set up to probe the bombing.