41 Shia Ismaili Muslims killed after gunmen attack bus in Pakistan

At least 41 people from minority Shia Ismaili community were today killed and several others injured after eight gunmen entered their bus and opened indiscriminate fire on the passengers in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police said.

"Eight armed men on motorcycles opened fire on a bus at Safoora Chorangi, Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi, killing at least 41 passengers," a police official said.

The death toll could further rise as about 20 others are seriously injured. The injured and dead were shifted to various hospitals by rescue workers.

The gunmen stopped the overloaded bus, entered inside it and open fire indiscriminately, the police said.

Nobody has taken responsibility for the attack, however the Taliban and groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi are known to often carry out such attacks.

Police and Rangers arrived at the scene and started manhunt.

More than 60 people were on the board the bus which was carrying the people of Ismaili community from Al-Azhar Garden area of the city to their place of worship near Aysha Manzil, police said.

Ismaili community is a branch of Shia Muslims and they are considered very peaceful people.

The attack came a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Kabul and declared that enemies of Afghanistan are also enemies of Pakistan.

Pakistan has seen a rise in sectarian violence in recent years particularly against minority Shias who represent around 20 per cent of the country's Muslim population.