At least 11 people were killed Friday in an attack on a political gathering of a secular party in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi ahead of May 11 elections, media reported. According to dpa, the bombing targeted an election rally of the Pushtun ethnic Awami National Party (ANP) in the Mominabad area of the city, where a local leader was present to address his supporters. Geo News TV and Dunya News TV said that 11 people were killed and over 40 injured including children. The leader, Bashir Jan, survived the bombing. Dawn newspaper quoted police official Asif Ijaz as saying that the planted bomb had about four kilograms of explosives. Anwar Kazmi of the private Edhi ambulance service told dpa that most of the victims died on the way to medical facilities, or later in hospital. Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack. They have threatened to bomb liberal-minded parties like the ANP.
