U.S. Consulate in Karachi Closed for “Security Reasons”
By
Asif Farooqi, IOL Pakistan correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
August 5 (IslamOnline) – Two months after the deadly bomb attack,
the United States Consulate in the violent port city of Karachi was
abruptly closed on Monday, August 5 “for security reasons”.
“The
Consulate General at Karachi has been closed for security reasons,”
the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement. No specific reason
or the time frame was mentioned. It is still not clear whether the
closure is temporary or permanent.
When
contacted on the phone, a local consulate staff member said they were
told to go back home upon arrival at the consulate Monday morning and
wait for instructions.
Karachi,
the southern port city has seen some violent terrorist acts this year.
Daniel Pearl, a U.S. reporter was abducted and killed in this city in
January and on May 15, French nationals were killed in a bombing
attack on a bus again in Karachi. O
On
June 14, 12 people — all Pakistani — were killed and 50 injured in
a car-bombing outside the U.S. consulate.
Islamic
groups have threatened to strike against American interests in
Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistan’s support for the U.S.-led
so-called “war against terror” and its ongoing crackdown on Muslim
groups.
Similar
threats were also made after a Pakistani court handed down the death
sentence to one of those convicted in the murder of Pearl.
Last
month, France closed its consulate building in Karachi and moved its
diplomats and staff to the more heavily guarded British consulate.
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