Pakistan News.

Deadly blasts hit Sufi shrine in Karachi

At least nine people have been killed by two suspected suicide blasts at a Sufi shrine in the Pakistani city of Karachi, say officials.

Two children were among those killed and some 55 people were injured, a senior police official told the BBC.

The blasts hit the busy Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine in Clifton district as people were leaving evening prayers.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said he condemned the incident "in the strongest possible terms".

Eyewitnesses said the blasts hit close to the entrance to the shrine as people were coming out of evening prayers.

Thursday is the busiest night of the week at the shrine, when people gather to distribute food to the poor.

"I saw this boy with long hair. He was coming into the shrine when he blew himself up," one witness told the BBC.

The BBC's Shoaib Hasan at the scene says crowds of people gathered outside the shrine awaiting news of loved ones as the clean up operation continues.

Dozens of security force members are at the scene, and there is blood spattered on the pavements, says our correspondent.

'Best security'

The Sufi community in Karachi has declared three days of mourning, during which all Sufi shrines in the city will be closed.

Security is also being tightened at mosques and other sensitive areas in Karachi, said officials.

Provincial Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza said the shrine had "the best available security" but that "humanly, it is not possible to stop suicide bombers intent on exploding themselves".

In a statement, Mr Zardari blamed the attacks on "those who want to impose an extremist mindset and lifestyle upon our country" but said the government would not be deterred.

"We remain committed to fighting these murderers and expelling them from our land," he said.

Pakistan has seen a significant rise in suicide bombings in recent year.

The Karachi blast appears to echo a double suicide attack on another Sufi shrine in Lahore in July.

More than 40 people were killed and nearly 200 injured in that incident, which targeted the popular Data Darbar shrine.(bbc)

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