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More Than 40 Killed in Attacks in Three Major Pakistani Cities

by Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD --

   Officials in Pakistan say more than 40 people were killed Friday in
   four separate attacks in three major Pakistani cities.

   Nearly 100 others were injured in the attacks which began Friday in the
   southwestern city of Quetta when a car bombing killed at least 13
   people and wounded 20 others. Senior police officers apparently were
   the target, with at least seven personnel among the dead.

   Both the Islamic State group and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), an offshoot of
   the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the Quetta attack.

   Parachinar attack

   Hours later, two back-to-back bombs went off in the northwestern town
   of Parachinar, targeting a crowded market in the semi-autonomous Kurram
   tribal district near the Afghan border. At least 25 people were killed
   in those attacks.

   Sajid Turi, a member of parliament from the area, told local the media
   that a low-intensity blast occurred during afternoon rush hour, before
   a second powerful bomb exploded.

   The lawmaker said he anticipated the death toll would increase.
   Hospital sources said more than 30 wounded people were brought from the
   scene in critical condition.

   The population in the area where the deadly blasts occurred is
   predominantly Shi'ite Muslims.

   A military statement said it dispatched two helicopters to Parachinar
   to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Peshawar.

   There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the Parachinar
   blasts.

   Karachi attack

   Later Friday evening, gunmen in the port city of Karachi attacked
   police officers at a roadside restaurant, killing four of them.

   U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Parachinar
   bombings and said he hopes those responsible are brought to justice, in
   a statement released by his spokesman.

   The U.S. State Department released a statement later Friday, saying,
   "We offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families. We
   will continue to work with the government of Pakistan and our partners
   across the region to combat the threat of terrorism."

   Nike Ching at the U.S. State Department and Margaret Besheer at the
   United Nations contributed to this report.