Karachi and its citizens have begun holding funerals for the 45 people killed in the car bomb explosion that ripped through the area outside of a mosque in that city. Besides the 45 killed, another 150 were injured.

The blast took place as Shi’ite worshippers were leaving the mosque after evening prayers on Sunday. The blast ignited several buildings, collapsing structures around the mosque, trapping people, women and children included, under the rubble.

The chemical used in the bomb is blamed for the fires. It caught fire as the exposion took place. The column of smoke rose above the area called Abbas Town and power was cut in parts of the city.

Rescue attempts were initially delayed as angry men with guns fired off rounds into the air in frustration and protest.

Although no one has stepped forward to take responsibility for the attack on the members of the Shi’ite minority, it is widely believed that the attack originated with one of the militant Sunni groups that have been targetting the minority.

Karachi has long been a hotbed of dispute and violence between different religious sects. Along with the sectarian divide between Sunni and Shi’ites, conflict erupts between the Pashtuns, Mohajirs and Sindis. The conflict between the Shias and Sunnis currently leads in violence however. Pakistans Supreme Court has ordered authorities to come up with a strategy to protect Shia Muslims from attacks by their Sunni counterparts, that order has not as yet shown fruit.