At least 45 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when gunmen opened fire on a bus of the Ismaili community near Safoora Chorangi in Karachi. According to Inspector General Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali 60 people were traveling in the bus when six gunmen entered the bus and executed 45 passengers. According to a survivor the attackers entered the bus from the rear side and after subduing the driver started shooting the passengers. The bus had been operating for the past ten years. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the attack; he also suspended the area’s SHO and DP. The CM also announced a compensation of Rs 0.5 million for the heirs of those killed and 0.2 million for the injured.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka and arrived in Karachi after the terrorist attack on an Ismaili community bus. General Raheel held a high-level meeting of military officials at the Corp Headquarters. The meeting was attended by DG ISI, DG Rangers and Corps Commander Karachi. The Army Chief was briefed on the attack on Ismaili community. General Raheel had a telephonic conversation with Prince Karim Agha Khan and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also arrived in Karachi to asses the situation.
The leader of Ismaili community Prince Karim Agha Khan in a press release expressed shock at the brutal incident and said, ‘This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those killed and wounded in the attack’.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced to observe a day of mourning across the country on Thursday.