Pakistani Gunmen Kill 43 in Bus Attack in Karachi

Gunmen on motorbikes attacked a bus in Karachi carrying Ismaili Shia Muslims that left 43 people dead and over 20 injured.

According to reports by police officials, the terrorists stopped the bus and proceeded to fire indiscriminately at the passengers.

Passengers included men, women and children who belonged to the Ismaili community, a minority Shiite sect.

The bus was on its way to an Ismaili Shia place of worship when it was stopped by 6 gunmen armed with 9mm pistols.

Jundullah, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman for the group, Ahmad Marwat said the attack was carried out on the victims for being 'Kafir' or non-Muslim.

Pakistan has for many years been plagued by sectarian violence. The Sunni majority accounts for 70 percent of the population while the Shia's are about 20 percent.

Up until now, the Ismaili Muslims who make up a tiny proportion of the Shia population were largely spared from the violence.

"This is the first such incident of its kind towards the Ismaili community," said Zohra Yusuf, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. "Nothing on this scale has ever been seen before."

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and has ordered an investigation.