Karachi: A suicide bomber targeted a vehicle carrying five Japanese nationals in Karachi’s Landhi area on Friday. Fortunately, all Japanese citizens remained unharmed, but a private security guard accompanying them was injured. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East Azfar Mahesar confirmed that the incident occurred near Murtaza Chowrangi in Landhi.
The Japanese nationals were traveling in a Hiace van from their residence in Zamzama, Clifton, to the Export Processing Zone. According to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) DIG Asif Aijaz Shaikh, the attackers struck while the Japanese nationals were traveling in a van with two security guards. One suicide bomber on a motorcycle targeted them, but swift action by the Sharafi Goth police thwarted the attack.
CTD in-charge Raja Umar Khattab revealed that the Japanese nationals were traveling in a convoy of three cars when the suicide bomber and his accomplice attacked. Despite the assailants’ attempts, timely police intervention prevented major casualties. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari commended the police for their swift response.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered an investigation into the incident, seeking a detailed report on the attackers and their facilitators. He emphasized the need to bolster security for foreign nationals and vowed to combat terrorism relentlessly.
The incident echoes a similar attack less than a month ago, where five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani were killed in a suicide bombing in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
