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Alert

Twelve journalists injured in bomb blast

(PPF/IFEX) - Eight print and electronic media professionals were injured in a bomb explosion outside the emergency ward of the Jinnah Hospital in Karachi on February 5, 2010. Four media employees were also injured by the angry mob after the explosion. The journalists were performing their professional duties at the hospital when the bomb went off.

The city suffered two blasts within a period of two hours. The first blast took place when a bomb-fitted motorcycle hit a bus carrying Shiite mourners. The second blast took place two hours later outside the emergency ward of the hospital where most of the injured from the first blast were rushed for treatment. The two blasts killed at least 33 people and injured over 100 others.

Waqt TV reporter Amin Shah received serious shrapnel injuries to his head and was admitted to hospital. His condition was said to be stable.

Others who received minor injuries included: Samaa TV reporter Muzamil; the head of Samaa's reporting team, Amin Yousuf; Samaa cameramen Khurram Gulzar, Rameez Ahmed and Akbar Ali; Express TV reporter Rabia Affaque; Rohi TV cameraman Pervez Bashir; MetroOne News TV cameraman Taha Ubaid; "Aajkal" daily reporter Zarnageen; "National Courier" reporter Jaffer Abbas; and "Muqadma" daily photographer Muhammad Amin. They were released after first aid treatment.

Bashir of Rohi TV told PPF that he fell down when the blast occurred in the hospital. Immediately after the blast, an angry mob assaulted the media workers with stones and batons. He received injuries on his waist and shoulder. His camera was also partially damaged.

Yousuf of Samaa TV told PPF that Muzamil and Gulzar were injured in the blast while he, Ahmed and Ali were injured by mob attack. They also lost one camera while another was damaged.

Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) President Javed Chaudhry and General Secretary Hassan Abbas, Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan Faran, Vice President Amir Latif, General Secretary A.H Khanzada and other office bearers condemned the blasts and demanded that the government provide security for journalists.

Journalists covering the session of Sindh Provincial Assembly on February 6 wore black bands in protest against the violence.