KARACHI: At least three people, including a private guard, were injured in an attack by unidentified miscreants on building of Express media group in Karachi on Monday night, private TV channels reported.
Taking notice of the incident, SSP Nasir Aftab told news channels that he was on his way to the scene. “Offices of the local Express newspaper and television channel were apparently the target of the cracker attack, which wounded at least three people,” he said.
ExpressNews reported that around eight to ten armed men tried to enter the building, located near Qayyumabad Flyover. Upon resistance from the private guards, they opened fire and hurled two hand grenades before fleeing away from the site, said the TV report.
The grenade explosions partially damaged nearby parked vehicles also.
The building holds offices of ExpressNews TV channel, Express Urdu newspaper and Express Tribune (English daily and website), where a large number of journalists and technical staff perform their daily duties.
It was not clear who was responsible for the attack or what the motive was. A local intelligence official also confirmed the incident.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi) among others have condemned the attack.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced to stage protest rallies on Tuesday.
Karachi, a city of 18 million people which is considered as economic hub of Pakistan, is rife with murder, kidnappings and has been plagued with sectarian, ethnic, and political violence for years.