135 dead as blasts hit Benazir Bhutto’s rally in Karachi

KARACHI — As many as 135 people are reported killed and 550 other wounded in result of two powerful simultaneous explosions amid the welcome rally of Benazir Bhutto on the occasion of her return to Pakistan after eight years of self-exile.
Private media reports said that explosion occurred a few yards away from the vane of Benazir Bhutto when it crossed the Carsaz Bridge.
Witnesses said body parts were strewn across Ms Bhutto`s truck. The death toll is expected to rise. She was immediately rushed from the scene to her Karachi residency, according to contingency plans. While the injured, which also include security and police officials, were rushed to the Jinnah Hospitals and Liaquat National Hospital.

There are also reports that Begum Abida Hussain also suffered injuries in the incident. The cameraman of ARY Arif Khan is also reported to be killed in the incident. The explosions were so powerful that it had created panic among the participants of the rally. The motorcade is now said to be at a standstill, and police have cordoned off the scene of the blasts.

Leaving the airport, Bhutto refused to use a bulletproof glass cubicle that had been built atop the truck taking her to the tomb of Pakistan`s founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, to give a speech. She squeezed between other party officials along a railing at the front.

Her procession had been creeping toward the center of Karachi for10 hours, moving at a snail`s pace while dancing and cheering supporters swarmed around the truck, when a small explosion erupted near the front of the vehicle. That was quickly followed by a larger blast just feet from the truck, setting an escorting police van on fire and breaking windows in Bhutto`s vehicle. Party members on top of the truck scrambled to the ground, one man jumping while others climbed down a ladder or over the side.

The former premier had just gone to a downstairs compartment in the truck for a rest when the blast occurred, an eyewitness said. Two PPP leaders Begum Abida Hussain and Fauzia Wahab, who were standing at the truck were wounded by splinters. The party leaders in the truck were transferred to other vehicles and carried to safer places. Medical emergency was declared at Jinnah and Civil Hospitals of Karachi immediately after the blast.

The area around a stage where she was due to give a speech to supporters has been evacuated. Police say the bombings may have been suicide attacks. Meanwhile, District Administration has declared emergency in all the hospital in Karachi and put all the hospital staff including paramedical staff on high alert.