Troops Out For Karachi Funerals

BBC News

April 13, 2006

Pakistani troops have been deployed in Karachi for funerals of moderate Sunni Muslim leaders killed in Tuesday's bomb attack on a prayer rally.

Thousands of people were expected to attend the funerals of three leaders of the Sunni Tehrik group, who were killed by the suspected suicide bomber.

The blast killed at least 57 people and injured more than 80, police say.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is in Karachi and has urged police to find those behind the attack without delay.

Karachi has a history of religious and ethnic violence.

The authorities have said they have no clue as to who might have carried out the bombing.

'Lapse'

After chairing a meeting to assess the situation, Mr Aziz told reporters one suicide bomber was involved in the attack and efforts were being made to establish his identity.

Mr Aziz told the meeting of top police and intelligence officials he wanted a thorough investigation into allegations that there had been a security lapse at the religious gathering where the explosion occurred.

Since then, army troops have been patrolling the city's streets to ensure security following unrest after the bomb explosion.

The BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Karachi says the blast is being described as one of the worst incidents of suicide bombing against Pakistan's majority Sunni Muslim community.

He says the people who faced the brunt of the blast were moderate Sunnis who have mostly kept away from sectarian conflict.

Anger

Members of the Sunni Tehrik, or movement, are not impressed by the authorities' actions, our correspondent says.

They lost almost their entire top leadership in the blast and are furious over the failure to provide protection to gatherings of moderate religious groups.

Their newly-appointed acting leadership has threatened to resort to extreme action if the authorities fail to arrest those behind the attack.

The group has also called for a countrywide strike on Friday in protest at the attack.

The explosion took part during evening prayers at a festival to mark Prophet Muhammad's birthday. The Sunni organisation, Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat - which is part of the wider Sunni Tehrik movement - organised the event.

At the weekend the same community lost 29 women and children in a stampede during prayers at a Karachi Islamic centre. The prayers were a part of the celebrations in honour of the Prophet.