Pakistan: Karachi bombing targeting MQM office kills 3, injures over 30

A set of bombings in Karachi targeting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's office Saturday have left three people dead and over 30 injured. 

The initial blast near the party's headquarters in Azizabad was followed by a second detonation after security had blocked off the crime scene and begun rescue operations, injuring emergency workers.

Victims were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where a bomb disposal squad was investigating reports of yet another planted explosive device, DawnNews reported. 

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, as it has with similar bombings in recent weeks, as violence escalates in the lead-up to Pakistan's May 11 elections, the first democratic power changeover, the News International reported. 

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that they have been the target of several attacks, but that they would not back down from their campaign.

“We will continue with our election campaign and no one can deter us from our fundamental right of partaking in polls,” he said. 

The attacks come as Raj Mohammad, a national assembly candidate from the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami party, was injured by an improvised explosive while on his election campaign in northwestern Pakistan. 

Since April 11, at least 70 people have been killed and around 350 injured in attacks targeting certain political parties, DawnNews reported.