Karachi: Militants on Thursday blew up a paramilitary rangers truck killing at least one ranger and wounding six others in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, officials said
The incident took place in the city’s eastern neighbourhood of Landhi in the morning. Planted on a motorcycle, the bomb detonated as the truck carrying 10 soldiers reached the timber market.
The wounded rangers were transferred to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College (JPMC), police officer Faisal Noor said. He said the two of them were critical.
The driver of the truck had also been listed as critical but later died at the JPMC, Dr Seemi Jamali, the head of the hospital said. The driver sustained fatal injuries on the head and chest. Another soldier lost an eye. The rest of the injured were stable, the doctor said.
Rangers are currently taking part in a joint operation with police in Karachi aimed at cleansing the city of terrorists and other hardcore criminals, including hired killers, gun runners and drug peddlers.
Karachi, a city of 18 million people, which contributes 42 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP, has been plagued by sectarian, ethnic and political violence for years.
A Rangers statement issued later in the day said the militants attacked the rangers truck with an explosives-laden motorcycle near the 89 Exchange Area of Landhi.
The vehicle was targeted as it was rotating troops who were deployed in the area. The motorcycle was concealed by scrap and wooden logs.
The spokesman said that the “cowardly act of terrorism” was the testimony of the effectiveness of the rangers’ targeted operation and showed clear frustration of the criminals and their collaborators. He further said that such acts would not deter their resolve to fight crime and terrorism in the city.
