ISLAMABAD (TIP): A powerful bomb went off outside a mosque in the port city of Karachi on Friday, leaving four people dead and 23 injured. The explosion occurred in Karachi’s Delhi Colony area as worshipers were leaving the mosque after offering Friday prayers.

It came a day after Pakistani jets pounded hideouts of militants in the restive Khyber tribal region with military claiming to have killed more than 30 militants in airstrikes. TV footage showed the windows of several building being shattered while ten cars, including three government vehicles, five auto rickshaws and several motorcycles were destroyed in the blast.

The victims were taken to the nearby Jinnah hospital where doctors said that five of the injured were critical. “The bomb was planted on a motor cycle parked near the Mosque. Four people have died and dozens injured. The injured have been hospitalized and the death toll may climb as several of the injured have suffered critical injuries,” said Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, a senior police official.

Sharjeel Memon, information minister of Sind province, said it seemed the target of the attack was provincial government as three government vehicles were destroyed in the attack. “The federal government needs to launch an offensive against terrorists in the country,” he said, adding that earlier terrorists would take responsibility for the attacks but now they remain silent. “The time for dialogue is over, the government should take action,” Memon said. There has been an escalation in bombings across the country since Pakistani Taliban called off their unilateral 40-day truce with the government on 10 of this month.