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RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKP #0397/01 3631228
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 291228Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1461
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0915
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0323
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0368
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1919
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2782
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4664
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2019 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PTER PK
 
SUBJECT: MUHARRAM VIOLENCE IN KARACHI 
 
Classified by: Acting Consul General Mary Elizabeth Madden, Reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Three days of Muharram procession violence in 
Karachi culminated on December 28 with a suicide bombing that killed 
at least 43 people and sparked rioting leading to extensive property 
damage.  Political leaders urged calm, but tensions remain high 
throughout the city.  End summary. 
 
Three Blasts in Three Days 
-------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU)  In the past, Karachi was known for sectarian violence, 
especially during Muharram. However, the last few years were calm and 
peaceful.  On December 27, an IED planted next to a parked car 
wounded 19 people in a Muharram procession in the area of Paposh 
Nagar.  The next day, there was an explosion during a procession in 
Orangi.  Thirty-four people were wounded.  The police are uncertain 
as to whether the explosion was caused by an IED or gas in a sewage 
line.  Following the explosion, the crowd set fire to three vehicles. 
 
¶3.  (C)  During the main Ashura procession on December 28, a suicide 
bomber made it into the security zone and detonated near the front of 
the procession on M.A. Jinnah Road.  The death toll currently stands 
at 43 with approximately 75 injured.  Among the dead are two Rangers 
(paramilitary police).  According to local contacts, the suspect 
approached the procession at a rest area set up along the route.  As 
he attempted to join the procession, he was challenged by a Ranger 
and a private security "scout" associated with the event.  While 
being checked, he detonated his device, approximately 16 kg of high 
explosives packed with ball bearings and nails.  After the explosion, 
rioting began and shops and vehicles were set on fire.  Twelve hours 
later buildings were still on fire as firemen suffered difficulty in 
reaching the locations.  Due to a shortage of fire brigades, 
reinforcements were summoned from Hyderabad (approximately 2 hours 
from Karachi), and did not arrive until the following morning. 
 
Urge for Peace 
--------------- 
¶4.  (SBU)  Immediately following initial reports of the explosion, 
leaders from Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Muttahida Quami 
Movement (MQM) took the airwaves and urged calm.  Syed Mustafa Kamal, 
mayor of Karachi, called for people to "not take law and order into 
their own hands" and declared this an "attack on all people of 
Karachi." 
 
Economic Impact 
------------------------- 
¶5.  (SBU)  Estimates vary, but approximately 1,500-3,000 shops were 
destroyed.  (Note: One building may contain several hundred small 
shops.  End note.)  The shops and markets on M.A. Jinnah Road are 
predominately wholesale businesses, including the second-hand clothes 
market mainly owned by Pashtuns.  Property damage estimates are in 
the tens of millions of dollars.  Destroyed wholesale inventory 
includes plastic goods, food and beverage, cosmetics, cell phones, 
perfumes, paints and chemicals.  The fires reduced several buildings 
to ashes.  Over 60 vehicles, including two police mobiles and several 
ambulances, were damaged or destroyed. 
 
¶6.  (U)  The Chief Minister declared a provincial day of mourning for 
December 29.  All transportation, including buses and rickshaws, 
stayed off the roads.  The majority of shops and businesses were 
closed, although banks stayed open.  The holiday and business 
closures were observed in cities throughout the province.  The 
Karachi Stock Exchange saw anemic trading, and closed 75 minutes 
early due to safety concerns. 
 
Conspiracy Theories Abound 
-------------------------- 
¶7.  (C)  Before the declaration of a holiday, Shahi Syed, President 
of Awami National Party (ANP) appealed to Pathans to keep transport 
off the roads.  He said Pathans usually suffer when buses are burnt 
by angry mobs.  He said that "some elements" are taking advantage of 
the situation to target Pashtun owned businesses.  (Note: Syed is 
referring to Mohajirs.  There is a history of ethnic violence between 
Mohajirs and Pashtuns in Karachi.  End note.) 
 
¶8.  (C)  Faisal Sabzwari, Sindh Minister for Youth and head of MQM 
Media Cell, said the incident was expected.  He stated his party 
tried to warn colleagues in the government, but they did not heed the 
warning.  He said MQM is trying to placate Shias and asking for their 
cooperation in maintaining peace, but he expected trouble during the 
 
KARACHI 00000397  002 OF 002 
 
 
funeral processions on December 29. 
 
¶9.  (C)  Rehman Malik, Federal Minister of Interior, called the 
incident a "calculated conspiracy" noting that the fires began within 
minutes of the explosion, and spread quickly.  (Note:  This tracks 
with rumors heard in Karachi.  End note.)  Malik called for unity and 
said "anybody trying to destabilize Karachi is actually destabilizing 
Pakistan." 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶10.  (C)  Karachi was spared the violence of other Pakistani cities 
the past months.  Given its violent history, this left many residents 
uneasy.  The December 28 attack shattered the peace.  While Karachi 
is still in mourning, the finger pointing is already beginning.  The 
next few days and weeks will tell if all factions will pull together 
for peace, or if this will be the incident that leads to the latest 
round of ethnic violence in Karachi. 
 
MADDEN