KARACHI: Dilawar Khan, father of PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Alamgir Khan, has passed away in a blast near Paracha Chowk in Karachi’s Shershah area on Saturday, PTI Karachi Chapter President Khurram Sher Zaman confirmed.
Talking to a private media outlet, PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman said, “Other members of Alamgir Khan family are trapped under the rubble,” he said.
Prime Minister Imran Khan offered condolences to the families of the victims. “I am especially saddened to hear of the loss of our MNA Alamgir Khan’s father who also perished in the blast,” wrote the premier on his official Twitter handle.
My heartfelt prayers & condolences go to all the families of victims of the twin blasts at Sher Shah Paracha Chowk, Karachi. I am especially saddened to hear of the loss of our MNA Alamgir Khan’s father who also perished in the blast. May Allah give him strength to bear this loss
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2021
Two of his employee, showroom manager Rashid and cook Islam, were also among the dead. The body of the deceased has been moved to the Trauma Center, rescue officials said.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail also expressed his condolences to the grieving families including Alamgir Khan. “The investigation is underway and blaming anyone before the report would be premature,” he told journalists.
Meanwhile, at least 14 people were killed and another 12 sustained injuries in the blast near Paracha Chowk in Karachi’s Shershah area.
SHO Zafar Ali Shah said the explosion took place in a nullah (drain) located underneath a private bank, which had been served a notice to vacate the premises so it could be cleaned up. “The bank’s building, as well as a nearby petrol pump, was damaged in the explosion”, he added.
Following the explosion, the bank premises collapsed and most of the casualties are reportedly customers and staff present inside the bank. According to the officials, the cause of the explosion is being investigated as they cannot confirm till now whether it was a gas pipeline or accumulation of gases in the nullah which led to the explosion.
The police spokesperson later said that a bomb disposal squad was called to examine the site of the explosion, adding that the cause can be determined with certainty once the squad submits its report.
