Bomb blast kills 5 near top party's election office in Pakistan

USPA News - Five people were killed Thursday when a bomb exploded outside the election offices of one of Pakistan`s main political parties in the southern port city of Karachi, local authorities said on Friday. It comes just weeks before general elections.

The powerful explosion took place on early Thursday evening outside one of the election offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) liberal political party in the Nusrat Bhutto Colony of North Nazimabad Town, which is located in the north of the financial seaport city and provincial capital. Police said the blast was caused by approximately 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of explosives that were placed on a motorcycle that was parked outside a shop near the MQM election office. The explosion killed five young MQM workers who were sitting nearby and injured 12 others. A brief statement on MQM`s website said one of the victims was the son of a former MQM councillor while the other four were cousins, although their names and exact ages were not immediately released. Footage from the scene outside the building showed shattered windows, damaged buildings, and several vehicles that were damaged by the blast. A spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), which is better known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. Thursday`s attack came just two days after a bomb exploded at a roadside MQM camp office in Karachi, killing five people and injuring 15 others. The attacks also come just over two weeks before May 11 general elections, which the Pakistani Taliban has described as `un-Islamic.` The group, besides threatening the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, has also threatened other political parties such as Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP).