44 killed in Pakistan Shiite mosque bombing

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No fewer than 44 people were killed on Friday in a bombing attack at a Shiite mosque in southern Pakistan, police said, and a militant group linked to the Islamic State Sunni extremist organization claimed responsibility.
Some 50 people were injured in the attack in Sindh province's Shikarpur, about 500 kilometers north of the port city of Karachi, said Shaukat Ali, a medic at a hospital in the city, reports dpa.
He said many were in serious condition.
Live television broadcast showed people and medics carrying the dead and injured out of the damaged mosque.
Police officer Abdul Qudus said 44 people were killed.
Jundullah, a militant group that last year declared allegiance to the Islamic State, said in a statement sent to journalists that it was behind the attack at the Imambargah Karbala Moula mosque.
Geo TV quoted a witness as saying that a suicide bomber walked into the Shiite mosque and blew himself up during prayers. Police could not confirm this, saying the attack was being investigated.
Before joining the Islamic State Jundullah had been allied with the Taliban.
Sunni militant groups often target Shiites they see as heretics.
Shiites make up about 20 percent of Pakistan's more than 180-million, majority-Sunni population.
It was the second attack on Shiites this month. A suicide bomber on January 10 killed eight people at a mosque in the city of Rawalpindi.
Shiite leader Amin Shaheedi on Friday criticised the government for failing to stop such attacks. He also announced three days of mourning.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack.
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