...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
killed at least four people on Wednesday, officials said.
The dead included three paramilitary Rangers and a private security guard, while four others were maimed.
In the first incident, two IEDs were placed close to a Rangers' checkpost in the busy North Nazimabad neighbourhood, killing one soldier and wounding three when they were detonated remotely.
"These were the IEDs which were installed in cement blocks targeting Rangers," senior police officer Amir Farooqi said.
Later, a jacket wallah went
kaboom!at the entrance of the Rangers' headquarters located in the same area of the city, killing two troops and a civilian security guard, and wounding another.
"The suicide attacker walked in and tried to enter into the gate when he was intercepted by the security officials and he went
kaboom!," Farooqi said.
A front man for the Rangers confirmed the toll. "The Rangers personnel who spotted and intercepted the suicide bomber will be awarded highest Rangers gallantry award," he added.
The injured were rushed to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.
Speaking to Dawn.com from
The blasts came hours before Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
said his government was ready to give another chance to peace talks despite a recent spate of attacks and suicide kabooms by the bully boys.
Sharif announced a four-member committee to facilitate the dialogue process.
TTP front man Shahidullah Shahid said the Taliban have convened a meeting of the Shura (council) to "assess the committee formed by the federal government for peace talks."
Earlier this month a Taliban suicide attacker killed one of Pakistain's best-known coppers, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, famed for his fearless work tackling gunnies in the city.
Karachi, a city of 18 million people which contributes 42 per cent of Pakistain's GDP, has been plagued by sectarian, ethnic and political violence for years.
Pakistain has endured a bloody start to the year with more than 100 people killed in attacks in January.