Was Karachi violence a 'thoroughly pre-planned' conspiracy?

Lahore, Jan 4 (ANI): The violence and a fire that erupted after a blast targeting a Muharram procession in Karachi on December 28 were "thoroughly pre-planned," according to a private TV channel.

At least 42 people were killed and 83 injured when a suicide bomber ripped through the provincial capital's central Youm-e-Ashur procession on MA Jinnah Road on Monday.

Enraged mourners went on a rampage following the attack, gutting shops and pelting stones at vehicles. Violence erupted in various parts of the city, including Ancholi, Jaffer-e-Tayyar Society, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Pehalwan Goth, Korangi and MA Jinnah Road.

Basing its claim on CCTV footage, the channel said police and Rangers deployed in the area had "started leaving their positions in a hurry", as no security personnel were visible in footage taken one minute and 12 seconds after the blast.

The "pre-planned arson" began 39 minutes after the blast, when "suspicious people" started arriving at the site, the Daily Times reports.

Showing a CCTV grab taken 39 minutes and 23 seconds after the blast, the channel said: "There were well-equipped people ... with ringleaders distributing phosphorous packets, petrol and gloves."

The report also says that fire brigade units reached the site within three minutes of the explosion, but "they were not where they were needed."

The report quoted sources as saying that the land mafia could have been involved in starting the fire. (ANI)