<p>Four persons were killed and 50 others injured today when a bomb planted on a motorcycle went off near a park close to Mutthaida Qaumi Movement headquarters where the party had just finished holding a massive rally.<br /><br />The blast occurred at Ayesha Manzil intersection, located a short distance from Jinnah Ground where the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had organised a rally this afternoon.<br />People leaving the rally were hit by the blast at about 7.15 pm, witnesses and police officials said.<br /><br />Four persons were killed by the blast and five others were critical in hospital, said Sagheer Ahmed, the Health Minister of Sindh province.<br /><br />DIG Asif Ejaz Sheikh told the media that 50 injured people were admitted to several nearby hospitals.<br /><br />Officials at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said three of the injured were in a serious condition. Women and children were among the injured. The bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked near a maternity home.<br /><br />Many persons were hit by ball bearings packed into the bomb, which was triggered by remote control, DIG Sheikh said.<br /><br />Three buses and five vehicles standing near the motorcycle were damaged by the blast, which was heard from several kilometres away.<br /><br />The explosion also damaged nearby buildings and shops.</p>.<p>Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Rescue operations were hampered by a traffic snarl and the large number of people who gathered in the area.<br />The blast caused panic and fear in the city and led to massive traffic jams and bottlenecks with shops and petrol pumps closing down.<br /><br />Though MQM leaders have been killed in target killings in the past, this is the first time that terrorists have directly targeted the MQM in a bomb attack.<br /><br />MQM, which is the single largest party in Pakistan's biggest city, has its headquarters close to Aisha Manzil and the Jinnah Park is used regularly for its rallies.<br /><br />The blast took place just after MQM chief Altaf Hussain had finished addressing the rally via telephone from London. </p>
<p>Four persons were killed and 50 others injured today when a bomb planted on a motorcycle went off near a park close to Mutthaida Qaumi Movement headquarters where the party had just finished holding a massive rally.<br /><br />The blast occurred at Ayesha Manzil intersection, located a short distance from Jinnah Ground where the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had organised a rally this afternoon.<br />People leaving the rally were hit by the blast at about 7.15 pm, witnesses and police officials said.<br /><br />Four persons were killed by the blast and five others were critical in hospital, said Sagheer Ahmed, the Health Minister of Sindh province.<br /><br />DIG Asif Ejaz Sheikh told the media that 50 injured people were admitted to several nearby hospitals.<br /><br />Officials at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said three of the injured were in a serious condition. Women and children were among the injured. The bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked near a maternity home.<br /><br />Many persons were hit by ball bearings packed into the bomb, which was triggered by remote control, DIG Sheikh said.<br /><br />Three buses and five vehicles standing near the motorcycle were damaged by the blast, which was heard from several kilometres away.<br /><br />The explosion also damaged nearby buildings and shops.</p>.<p>Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Rescue operations were hampered by a traffic snarl and the large number of people who gathered in the area.<br />The blast caused panic and fear in the city and led to massive traffic jams and bottlenecks with shops and petrol pumps closing down.<br /><br />Though MQM leaders have been killed in target killings in the past, this is the first time that terrorists have directly targeted the MQM in a bomb attack.<br /><br />MQM, which is the single largest party in Pakistan's biggest city, has its headquarters close to Aisha Manzil and the Jinnah Park is used regularly for its rallies.<br /><br />The blast took place just after MQM chief Altaf Hussain had finished addressing the rally via telephone from London. </p>