DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234133
TITLE=PAK VIOLENCE (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TWO BOMBS HAVE EXPLODED, INJURING AT LEAST 12-PEOPLE IN 
PAKISTAN'S TROUBLED PORT CITY OF KARACHI.  CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH
BUEL REPORTS.

TEXT:  POLICE TELL V-O-A THE FIRST BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE THE MAIN
ENTRANCE OF THE KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE, LOCATED IN THE CITY'S 
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.  POLICE SAY THE BOMB WAS HIDDEN IN A 
MOTORCYCLE.

WITNESSES SAY THERE WAS A POWERFUL EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY A LARGE 
CLOUD OF SMOKE.  THE LOUD BLAST PANICKED BROKERS, INVESTORS AND 
EMPLOYEES WHO RAN FOR SHELTER AFTER THE EXPLOSION.

V-O-A REPORTER GULAM HASNAIN ARRIVED AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE 
SHORTLY AFTER THE BOMB EXPLODED.

                        // HASNAIN ACT //

 THE EXPLOSION DAMAGED AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE MOTORCYCLES.  THERE 
ARE A COUPLE OF CARS WHOSE WINDOW SHIELDS HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY THE
IMPACT OF THE BLAST.  THEN THIS EIGHT STORY BUILDING -- YOU CAN 
SEE A LOT OF BROKEN WINDOW PANES.

                          // END ACT //

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KARACHI STOCK 
EXCHANGE -- MOHAMMAD YASIN LAKHANI -- SAYS THE MARKET WILL REMAIN
OPEN.

                        // LAKHANI ACT //

 WELL WE ARE GOING TO FIRM UP OUR OWN SECURITY FURTHER.  WE ARE 
NOT GOING TO BE COWED-DOWN BY ANY OF THESE KINDS OF TERRORIST 
ACTS.  WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST THEM AND WE DO NOT NEED TO 
PLAY THEIR GAMES BY CLOSING DOWN THE MARKET OR TRYING TO PANIC.

                          // END ACT //

SHORTLY AFTER THE BOMBING AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE A SECOND BOMB 
EXPLODED OUTSIDE A PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING IN 
KARACHI.  THAT BOMB WAS ALSO HIDDEN IN A MOTORCYCLE.

NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLASTS.

THE EXPLOSIONS ARE THE LATEST INCIDENTS IN A WAVE OF VIOLENCE 
THAT HAS GRIPPED PAKISTAN'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL.

POLICE SAY MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IS DUE TO A RIVALRY BETWEEN THE 
M-Q-M POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND A BREAK-AWAY FACTION KNOWN AS "M-Q-M
HAQIQI".

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED MANY MILITANTS FROM BOTH GROUPS, BUT HAVE 
HAD LITTLE SUCCESS CURBING THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS WRACKED KARACHI 
FOR YEARS.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/MB/RAE

18-Jun-98 8:31 AM EDT (1231 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.