Karachi bomb kills one

Buses and cars were set on fire by gangs of youths

One person has been killed in a bomb blast at a popular shopping centre in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

Police say the attack could be linked to a strike called by two regional groups in the province of Sindh to protest at the authorities failure to solve a chronic water shortage.

Pakistan has had droughts for the last three years

On the eve of the strike, gangs of youths burned buses and cars in different parts of the city, and more than 200 activists were arrested on suspicion of instigating trouble.

Police believe the person who died in the bomb attack was the bomber himself.

A second bomb went off 2 km (1.2 miles) away but no-one was injured. So far, no group has admitted responsibility for the attacks.

Paramilitary deployed

Most shops and businesses in the province remained closed on Wednesday, but there were no reports of violence outside Karachi.

Paramilitary units have been deployed to assist riot police.

Police believe the person who died was the bomber

The Muttahida Quami Movement and Jeay Sindh group have been staging almost daily protests to demand an increase in the supply of irrigation water for the province.

They accuse Pakistan's military government of favouring the larger Punjab province by giving it more water, worsening the drought in Sindh.

The authorities reject the allegations, saying the lack of water is a natural disaster due to the shortfall in seasonal rains.

Rainfall is estimated to be down more than a third and snowfall has been poor.