There are a number of car firms in the area, and Khan, who owned one of the three showrooms, was killed. Two of his staff – the showroom manager and a cook reported to be called Islam – were also said to be among the dead.
He was the father of Alamgir Khan – a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) who founded campaign group FixIt because of the authorities’ perceived inability to cover manholes in Karachi – and Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, referred to Dilawar Khan in a tweet of condolence:
My heartfelt prayers & condolences go to all the families of victims of the twin blasts at Sher Shah Paracha Chowk, Karachi. I am especially saddened to hear of the loss of our MNA Alamgir Khan’s father who also perished in the blast. May Allah give him strength to bear this loss
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2021
Staff from Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were reported to be attempting to pump water out from the showrooms.
Police spokesman Sohail Jokhio said the blasts were apparently caused when something ignited gas that had accumulated in the sewer beneath the building in the Sher Shah neighbourhood.
Senior police officer Sarafar Nawaz Shaikh said later that investigators weren’t ruling out the possibility that the explosion was the work of militants.
Pictures via PA Media
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